Genoa v Fiorentina match preview

Following last weeks abysmal 3-0 loss to Roma, the Rossoblu welcome Fiorentina to Stadio Luigi Ferraris. With the Viola only one point above Genoa, the match is a crucial six point affair in which both sides will fighting for the much needed win.

The test for Gian Piero Gasperini's side is how they respond to challenge and whether they can restore the "fight" that they exuded during their recent unbeaten string. Heading into the Roma match they spoke rarely of "attacking" or going for the win and the scale of their loss was highly predictable. For Genoa to win a Champions League spot, they will need to be more aggressive and attack challenges and not back down. Last week, they didn't simply back down, they didn't even advance towards the challenge.

For the match Genoa will be without Giuseppe Sculli who is in the sin-bin but are also facing late decisions on Rubinho, Ivan Jurić, Marco Rossi, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Giuseppe Biava, Anthony Vanden Borre and Serbian international Boško Janković. Cesare Prandelli's squad is certainly dealing with their own injury problems as they are missing Felipe Melo, who is suspended as well as Sergio Almirón, Martin Jørgensen, Mario Santana injury. There is some concern of the health of Adrian Mutu, Alberto Gilardino and Dario Dainelli but all are expected to be ready for this critical match.

While Genoa has many late decisions that will impact, such as whether Alessio Scarpi will need to step in for Rubinho between the posts, Matteo Ferrari will anchor the back line in a key structural point of their 3-4-3 formation. With the return to health of Raffaele Palladino, he is likely to join the attacking trident of Diego Milito and former Crvena zvezda man Boško Janković up-front.