Both teams are going through a rough patch at the moment, so it is highly unlikely that we will see a great game of football at Marassi, but we should see two very motivated sides looking to improve their fortunes. Genoa are favourites as they traditionally do well at home, whereas Lecce will have to produce something special to avoid defeat in this clash.

Genoa in problems

Club owner Enrico Preziosi has done really well to reinforce the squad over the summer so no wonder he is not satisfied with team’s results at the start of the season. Genoa did stay without Rafinha, Konko and El Sharaawy, but they brought several very good players in Sebastien Frey, Valter Birsa, Andreas Granqvist, Lucas Pratto, Kevin Constant and Alexander Merkel. The team have started the season well, beating Lazio and Catania after the opening draw against Atalanta, but away defeats to Chievo and Parma have somewhat destabilized the squad. There are no doubts the team have much more potential than they are showing, and since coach Alberto Malesani had a lot of time to work with his players during the international break, we should definitely see some improvement against Lecce. Serie A top scorer Rodrigo Palacio will be relied on to score against Lecce, but Caracciolo and Pratto also need to start pulling their weight.

Juraj Kucka is doubtful with an ankle problem, but Ze Eduardo and Giandomenico Mesto are definitely out.

Just three goals scored

Lecce have been starring into the eyes of relegation over the last few years, and they again look like the main candidates for the drop. Working on a really tight budget, the club chiefs couldn’t really sign any notable players, but mostly opted for loan deals and free transfers, and that is hardly the perfect way to reinforce a squad. As a result, Lecce have really struggled at the start of the season, beating Bologna and losing to Udinese, Atalanta, Siena and Cagliari, with the players really low on confidence at the moment. Lecce have not only conceded at least two goals in four of five games, but they failed to score in three out of five, so it is quite obvious that there are problems in every area of the pitch. Coach Eusebio Di Francesco tried to lift the players’ spirits during the international break, but seeing that he is working with a very limited squad, there is not much more that he can do at the moment.

Apart from Stefano Ferrario, the gaffer can choose from a fully fit squad. Lecce are expected to line up in 4-4-1-1 formation.

Verdict

Genoa have been pretty convincing at home this season and they clearly have more potential than they are showing at the moment. Lecce, on the other hand, are in real problems and being one of the weakest sides in Serie A, they face a really tough task at Marassi.

Our prediction: Genoa with -1 Asian handicap

Odds: 2.04 (26/25)

Bookmaker: Ladbrokes