Genoa suffered a 1-2 defeat away to Frosinone this past weekend, the third consecutive away loss for the Alberto Gilardino-led side. They will be hoping to return home to rediscover their winning ways, and recent results at the Stadio Marassi give them reason for optimism. Genoa have beaten Salernitana and Verona in consecutive home matches and are now aiming for a third consecutive home win, hoping to extend the points gap to seven ahead of this weekend's opponents Empoli, who are currently 18th.
Having returned to the top flight just a year ago, Gilardino will want to avoid their side's immediate relegation from the competition, and grabbing all three points at home will be crucial to their relegation prospects. Genoa have lost just one of their last five home games, winning three, and making that four wins out of seven would be something the team desperately needs.
Remarkably, this Empoli side welcomed by Genoa have been better on the road than at home, winning two of their last three away games. Empoli's three wins so far this season have all come after a coaching change, two months after Aurelio Andrizzoli replaced Paolo Zanetti as coach. However, Empoli have lost three of their last four games (one win), suggesting they may be in another slump, even if Andreazzoli can blame their latest loss to Sassuolo on bad luck.
Empoli couldn't hold on until the end after equalizing in the 86th minute, and were denied the winning goal in stoppage time by Domenico Berardi, their ninth loss in 13 matches - no team has lost more than them. It was disappointing for Empoli to lose in that fashion, and although they scored and won in Naples in the 12th round, they will be hoping for better luck this weekend.
Genoa Serie A Format: LLWLWL Genoa All competitions Format: LWWLWL Empoli Serie A Format: DWLLWL
TEAM NEWS: Gilardino will have to cope with the absence of several injured players, with Kevin Strootman not expected to return until the New Year due to a thigh muscle injury, while Matteo Retegui is not expected to make his debut due to a knee problem. Mattia Barney, Caleb Eyre and Albert Gudmundsson are slowly closing in on a return to action, but Filipe Jaggiello could be back in Genoa's lineup this weekend.
For Empoli, they are not expected to use Tommaso Baldanzi until at least the first week of December, so the 20-year-old will not be available this weekend. Giuseppe Pezzella also missed the away game with a back injury, but his return has not yet been confirmed.
