Genoa and Como, two of those promoted to the first division this season, will animate tomorrow the duel that will launch the twelfth round of the Italian championship and in which both need victory to move away from the “red zone” and not have to suffer more forward to maintain the category.
Alberto Gilardino’s “Grifone” left the bottom of the table thanks to the 1-0 victory they achieved as a visitor to the also promoted Parma on Monday, in one of the matches that closed the eleventh day, in which the Spanish Como Cesc Fabregas fell by the same score that same day on the Empoli field.
Tomorrow’s event will be at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, where Genoa has not yet won in this tournament and has had three draws and as many defeats, the same amount they suffered when leaving home, a condition in which, however, they look more effective, as they managed their only two wins as a visitor (the previous one had been achieved on the second round against Monza and it was also 1-0).
“We did not have time to enjoy the victory because we return to play almost immediately and that is why the mentality and energy of the group will be fundamental for tomorrow’s game, very important because we will play against our people and we want to give them joy,” said Gilardino, world champion with the “azzurra” in Germany 2006.
The Genoa squad received a visit today from the club’s president, Alberto Zangrillo, and Gilardino highlighted: “He gave a very emotional speech. Words from a president and an intelligent person that invite us to think and reflect because he spoke to us about emotions, passions and sacrifice”.
“That is the DNA of this team and I think we saw it against Parma,” added the coach of a Genoa team that will not be able to count on any of the nine injured players and that is why “an extraordinary dose of effort will be necessary because the moment makes it so.” demand, but I have enough options to choose from,” he said, highlighting that “from previous defeats I learned that victory has a taste of magic.”
Regarding tomorrow’s game, Gilardino considered that “it will be complicated by the rival, a team that usually becomes strong in possession of the ball and that has individualities and a very marked style of play that its coach was able to transmit to it.”
Gilardino also recalled that Como was able to surprise Atalanta, one of the teams fighting at the top, and beat them 3-2 as a visitor on the fifth date, although the report indicates that they suffered four defeats in their last five appearances and that is why Fabregas warned : “We must straighten the course and we have to do it together. I am the first person responsible.”
How they lost five of the seven games they played as visitors in the tournament, of which they won only one, the same amount they celebrated at home, a condition in which they tied two and lost one.
They have nine points, like Genoa, Parma and Cagliari, just one above Monza, Venezia and Lecce, who occupy the relegation places.
“In Tuscany we lacked a dose of evil and I was very upset, but we must capitalize on the mistakes, stay united and overcome this delicate bad moment,” explained Fabregas, who said he continued “believing in the project” and “living a dream.” , although he quickly woke up and warned that Genoa is a rival to fear.
“Gilardino’s men, a colleague whom I appreciate very much, arrive energized by the victory against Parma and will have the support of their fans. They will surely come out to attack us with many people,” explained the Spaniard, confirming that Patrick Crutone and Andrea Belotti will command Como’s offensive, assisted by Argentine Nico Paz and Brazilian Gabriel Strefezza.
The Argentine Maximo Perrone, who is suffering from a bruise on his thigh as a result of a blow and would not be available until the beginning of January, will obviously not play against a Genoa team that will have the returned Mario Balottelli on the bench, having just joined the squad and whose Fabregas said: “I know him personally and he is a great boy, very funny. I hope tomorrow is not his best afternoon.”
In the starting eleven of the “Grifone” will be the Mexican Johan Vásquez (the Brazilian Junior Messias was not called up due to an injury, as was the Portuguese Vitinha, another of those nine absences that Gilardino’s team suffers from).
The twelfth round will continue on Friday with Lecce-Empoli and on Saturday there will be three other matches: Venezia-Parma, Cagliari-Milan and the “Derby della Mole” between Juventus and Torino. On Sunday they will play: Atalanta-Udinese, Fiorentina-Hellas Verona, Roma-Bologna, Monza-Lazio and the outstanding Inter-Napoli, second and leader of the championship, respectively.
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