Davide Ballardini assures while Atalanta are on sparkling form, ‘Genoa aren’t doing badly either’ and will try to make it as difficult as possible.
It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“It’s going to be a difficult game, but we really want to make it tough for Atalanta too,” smiled the coach in his press conference just days after forcing Juventus to extra time in a 3-2 Coppa Italia tie.
Davide Ballardini assures while Atalanta are on sparkling form, ‘Genoa aren’t doing badly either’ and will try to make it as difficult as possible.
It kicks off on Sunday at 17.00 GMT, click here for a match preview.
“It’s going to be a difficult game, but we really want to make it tough for Atalanta too,” smiled the coach in his press conference just days after forcing Juventus to extra time in a 3-2 Coppa Italia tie.
“Atalanta are in good shape, but we’re not doing badly either. Seeing the lads face Juventus with that focus and character was really pleasing.
“We’re going to need another great performance in Bergamo. If you meet Atalanta straight after a Champions League game, they probably won’t be at 100 per cent, but if they can take it one match at a time and focus in training, they have the kind of strength and technique that is on a par with the very best in Italy.”
Genoa have reinforced over the January transfer window with midfielder Kevin Strootman and defender Jerome Onguene.
“They are strong players who arrive with a lot of enthusiasm, the desire to prove they can be very useful. I’ve only seen them a couple of times in training, but they appear to be in good shape and physically ready to play.
“Goran Pandev is available again, as he had two or three training sessions with the group.”