Andriy Shevchenko makes his debut on the Genoa bench with an injury crisis on his hands, as Jose Mourinho tries to get Roma back on track after a dismal run.
The Ballon d’Or winner takes on his first club role after several years as coach of the Ukraine national team, replacing Davide Ballardini and truly marking the start of the 777 Partners era running Genoa. He’s got a reduced squad to choose from, as injuries continue to pile up, with Domenico Criscito and Felipe Caicedo the latest additions. Sheva is expected to adopt a 3-4-1-2 formation with Pablo Galdames supporting the strikers.
As for Roma, Mourinho needs to wrestle the team back on track after one win in the last five Serie A rounds, not including the dire performances against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League. There is also a COVID outbreak reported in the squad, with Bryan Cristante and Gonzalo Villar positive, but at least Lorenzo Pellegrini is back from injury.
Form Guide: Genoa (D D D L D) Roma (L L W D L)
Stat fact: Roma are unbeaten against Genoa in 14 Serie A meetings, winning 11 and drawing three, and their last defeat at Marassi was in May 2014.
Probable line-ups
Genoa (3-4-1-2): Sirigu; Biraschi, Vasquez, Masiello; Cambiaso, Badelj, Rovella, Sturaro; Galdames; Pandev, Ekuban
Suspended: None
Injured: Criscito, Caicedo, Maksimovic, Bani, Cassata, Hernani, Fares, Destro
On a yellow card: Biraschi
Roma (3-4-1-2): Rui Patricio; Kumbulla, Mancini, Ibanez; Karsdorp, Darboe, Veretout, El Shaarawy; Pellegrini; Shomurodov, Abraham
Suspended: None
Injured: Spinazzola, Vina, Smalling, Calafiori, Cristante, Villar
On a yellow card: Cristante, Mancini, Veretout, Abraham, Karsdorp