The fixture between Genoa and Frosinone at Stadio Ferraris will be fundamental for the relegation zone, especially for the guests, who are second-bottom.
This week has been thorny for Gian Piero Gasperini, Genoa Coach, because Rossoblù supporters have continued talking about his future. “Io sto con Gasperini” (“I’m with Gasperini”, in Italian language), a famous Facebook Page, started a petition on change.org signed by about 2,000 people in order to ask him to stay on the Genoa bench.
The Rossoblù have achieved three wins during the last five fixtures also thanks to the change of their players’ disposition from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2. They are six points clear of the relegation zone, so they can’t let down their guard until the end of the season, especially at Stadio Ferraris. Napoli defeated Genoa during the last fixture thanks to a Higuaín double, but supporters were satisfied for the way Grifone played against an important team like the Vesuviani, currently fighting for the Scudetto.
“The Rossoblù need only a couple of right results, because the squad is good and the Coach too”. The Genoa ex-midfielder Ignazio Arcolao said to Pianeta Genoa. “During this season I’ve seen a great team more than once. I hope that next fixture will be decisive for Serie A salvation, even if it will not be easy”.
If Gasperini leaves the Genoa bench, Frosinone coach Roberto Stellone could replace him according to Italian sport newspapers. He was a Rossoblù striker during the 2004-05 Serie B season, which brought Genoa to a Serie A promotion, only to have it revoked because of the famous “Venezia Case”. Stellone played together with the argentine Diego Milito in Serse Cosmi’s team and scored 18 goals in 29 appearances, the best return of his career.
It will be a special day for Daniel Ciofani. In fact, the next fixture will be his 100th appearances in national championships, from Serie C2 to Serie A. At the moment his record consists of 8 goals in 29 caps, but he’s not satisfied. “Against Genoa we must not lose. We need the play-off attitude, which could help us to achieve a win or a draw. It’s very important to take points”. So he said in the weekly press conference.
Roberto Stellone expressed the importance of the game to Il Secolo XIX. “Also during this season people derided us. They thought we would be relegated in January, but we are alive now, one point away from Serie A survival. Ready to fight for it until the end, because it’s a duty for our supporters, our President and ourselves”.
At the moment Frosinone is one point behind Palermo and Carpi, respectively third-bottom and fourth-bottom. Salvation is possible, thanks to their brave attitude at Stadio Matusa. They must give all they have to not undermine their work, beginning from Sunday’s match against Genoa.
Keep an eye on: Leonardo Pavoletti (Genoa) – On Sunday Pavoletti could come back on the field after a month stop for an injury to his biceps femoris muscle. The striker is essential for Genoa thanks to 11 goals in 19 appearances, which could have brought him to his first call-up to the Italian national team without that problem.
Form Guide: Genoa (L W L L W) Frosinone (D L W L D)
Last season: Not played
Stat fact: In Serie B, during the season 2006/07, Genoa’s Portuguese striker Diogo Tavares scored against Frosinone one of the fastest goal in Rossoblù history, only 39 seconds after the kick off. At the end of the fixture Genoa achieved an important 3-2 win.
Genoa (3-5-2): Perin; Muñoz, De Maio, Izzo; Laxalt, Rincón, Džemaili, Rigoni, Gabriel Silva; Pandev, Pavoletti.
Suspended: None
Frosinone (4-4-2): Leali; Rosi, Ajeti, Blanchard, Pavlović; Paganini, Sammarco, Gori, Kragl; Ciofani, Dionisi.
Suspended: None
Published in Football Italia on 01/04/2016.
