Serie A Preview: Reggina - Genoa

[FerrariTifosi27]

Serie A Preview: Reggina - Genoa

What: Serie A - Matchday 12
Who: Reggina (20th, 6 points) vs Genoa (10th, 14 points)
When: Sunday 11 November 2007, 15:00 CET
Where: Stadio Oreste Granillo, Reggio Calabria

Reggina Look For New Start Under Ulivieri

In the crucial recent relegation match at home to Livorno, the now former Reggina coach Massimo Ficcadenti faced a do-or-die proposition: anything but a win against the bottom club would result in the sack. Reggina lost 3-1.

Needless to say, Ficcadenti was quickly replaced, even if the next match against Napoli took place just a few days later. Veteran coach Renzo Ulivieri (66) came in his place, and immediately got a creditable result at San Paolo, holding the Azzurri to a 1-1 draw. In fact, only a 90th minute equaliser by Ezequiel Lavezzi prevented Napoli from losing the match, after Luca Vigiani had opened the score for in the 54th minute.

Against Genoa, Reggina will hope to finally celebrate their first win of the season. After the home loss to Livorno, the Amaranti were left as the only Serie A team without a victory to their name.

At the moment, Reggina are looking like one of the favorites to be relegated, which is somewhat surprising considering their exploits of last season, in which they managed to overcome an 11-point deduction from ‘Calciopoli’ and maintain their Serie A status against all odds.

Most probably the departures, among others, of coach Walter Mazzarri to Sampdoria and striker Rolando Bianchi (who scored 18 goals last year) to Manchester City have proven crucial, as both played a major part in Reggina’s achievements.

On many occasions in past seasons Reggina were one of the teams that barely escaped relegation, and unless Ulivieri comes up with some drastic measures, the Amaranti could be facing the prospect of returning to Serie B after six seasons in the top flight.

Genoa A Pleasant Surprise

Following 12 years away from Serie A, Genoa made their return to the top flight last summer following an impressive season in Serie B. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini stayed on, and a number of new experienced players were bought, including strikers Marco Di Vaio and Marco Borriello, as well as defender Alessandro Lucarelli (yes, striker Cristiano’s younger brother).

Their start wasn’t too promising, as they went down to a 3-0 home defeat to Milan on their debut, and tied games against the likes of Catania and Livorno. But a 3-2 home win over Udinese signalled a new start for the Rossoblu, as they won their following two games as well, away to Napoli (2-1) and at home against Cagliari (2-0).

Then came more difficult games away to Juventus, who beat them 1-0, and Inter, who won 4-1. Genoa’s latest result was a thrilling 3-3 home draw against Palermo, with five goals scored in the last half an hour. Nevertheless, Genoa were left with a bitter taste in the mouth as Palermo equalised in the 92nd minute through Amauri. A win would have been priceless, as they would have leaped to seventh place in the league.

As things stand, they are in tenth place, but Genoa have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the new Serie A season so far. If they continue on their current form, a Uefa Cup spot is not out of the question.

FORM GUIDE

Reggina

04/11 (Serie A): Napoli-Reggina 1-1

31/10 (Serie A): Reggina-Livorno 1-3

28/10 (Serie A): Siena-Reggina 0-0

20/10 (Serie A): Reggina-Inter 0-1

07/10 (Serie A): Palermo-Reggina 1-1

Genoa

04/11 (Serie A): Genoa-Palermo 3-3

31/10 (Serie A): Inter-Genoa 4-1

28/10 (Serie A): Genoa-Fiorentina 0-0

21/10 (Serie A): Juventus-Genoa 1-0

07/10 (Serie A): Genoa-Cagliari 2-0

TEAM NEWS

Reggina

Miguel Garcia, Luca Tognozzi, Francesco Cozza, and Pettinari are out injured.

Possible formation (3-5-2): Campagnolo; Lanzaro, Valdez, Aronica; Vigiani, Barreto, Cascione, Hallfredsson, Modesto; Tullberg, Amoruso.

Genoa

Manuel Coppola is injured while Marco Borriello is suspended.

Possible formation (3-4-3): Rubinho; Konko, Bovo, Lucarelli; Rossi, Paro, Juric, Fabiano; Leon, Figueroa, Sculli.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nicola Amoruso (Reggina)

The former Juventus substitute striker is confirming his worth to Reggina once again. Over the last two seasons the 33-year-old had scored 28 goals, ending up as top scorer each time, and so far he has netted four in the current season. If Reggina want to have a hope of staying in Serie A yet again, they will need Amoruso to keep up his goalscoring form.

Marco Borriello (Genoa)

Borriello had never been able been able to win a starting place at Milan, however he has exploded in Genoa with sic goals in nine appearences so far. This might be the season where the 25-year-old finally reaches double figures in Serie A after several unimpressive stints with the likes of Reggina, Sampdoria, Treviso, and Empoli.

PREDICTION

Tough one to call - it might be an entertaining draw.

Reggina-Genoa 2-2

[FerrariTifosi27]

Reggina 1-0 Genoa

31st minute Amoruso

[Police Deputy Mitch]

good win for reggina finally.... ulivieri will do well in charge... reggina do not have a bad team, hopefully we see the real reggina now... in january a good striker is arriving to partner amoruso and we will be a tough outfit.

[FerrariTifosi27]

good win for Reggina, finally we are back on the mark hopefully Ulivieri can lift their game and bring them back up to the top