Lazio vs Genoa

Lazio and Genoa meet in a battle of clubs struggling to find consistency this season. The two clubs have combined for just 2 wins between them over the last 5 rounds and find themselves in the bottom half of the Serie A league table.

The home side Lazio are currently in 14^th place of the league table with 18 points for the year. This leaves them just behind AC Milan on goal difference and 1 point ahead of Torino. They are coming off of a 2-2 draw away to Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

For this week’s match at home to Genoa the biancocelesti will be missing a number of players including Nigerian Stephen Makinwa who is away at the African Cup of Nations, and talented Argentine Cristian Ledesma who is serving a suspension. To say that manager Delio Rossi will be missing some creativity and pace in attack this week would be an understatement. The pressure will be on Rocchi and Pandev to provide the offense on their own. The two strikers have scored 5 and 7 goals respectively this season.

Genoa are doing a little better than Lazio and sit in 11^th place of the table with 19 points, 2 back of 10^th place Catania. Their last match saw them run out winners over Parma by a score of 1-0 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris at Marassi. Brazilian Danilo is the main injury concern for manager Giampiero Gasperini who looks set to continue his 3-4-3 featuring Borriello in attack. The striker has produced 8 goals so far in the present campaign. Criscito is the player slated to cover for Danilo on the left side. Genoa have been playing better of late on the road and have held out for a draw in their last 2 away contests.

The truth is that neither of these clubs have impressed this season and don’t seem capable of mounting a serious challenge for a UEFA Cup position. Genoa’s improving road form coupled with Lazio’s inability to scare anyone at home- they have won just 3 of 9 matches- seems to indicate a deadlock.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)