Genoavs.Roma

A tally of just two points from three games follows the Giallorossi's weak run of form at the end of last term; meanwhile, while their hosts slipped up for the first time just before the international break.

Match preview

In no doubt that the honeymoon is now over, Roma's returning hero Daniele De Rossi is enduring a particularly tough time at the moment, having failed to maintain his early momentum at Stadio Olimpico.

After goalless draws against Cagliari and Juventus - the latter featuring just two shots on target - and a shock home defeat to Empoli, his new-look team sit inside the bottom half of the early Serie A standings.

Despite recruiting frantically to overhaul a squad De Rossi inherited from Jose Mourinho, the Giallorossi are now at risk of failing to win any of their first four league fixtures for just the fourth time ever, most recently doing so back in 2010.

As evidenced in their drab stalemate with Juve, a disjointed attack has yet to produce the goods, even though Paulo Dybala dramatically turned down a huge offer from Saudi Arabia to stay and La Liga's Pichichi-winner Artem Dovbyk was signed at great expense.

Among all teams that have scored at least once across Europe's top five leagues, Roma have the lowest shot-conversion rate (2%) this season, with only one of their 49 attempts ultimately resulting in a goal.

That is significant cause for concern, as the capital club have now won just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions: a 1-0 victory over none other than Genoa, when the clubs met in Rome four months ago.

While Genoa's record against Roma is quite dire - 13 losses and just one win in the teams' last 17 Serie A meetings - they can reflect on fond memories of the Giallorossi's most recent visit to Marassi.

Just under a year ago, the Ligurian side stunned Mourinho's men on home turf, with a 4-1 victory proving to be one of the highlights of a successful comeback campaign.

Before embarking on their second season back in the top flight, Alberto Gilardino's attack was picked apart during the transfer window, but Genoa still sit two points above Roma in the table.

After progressing in the Coppa Italia, then snatching a point against reigning champions Inter Milan on Serie A's opening matchday, the Grifone followed a 1-0 win in Monza with their first defeat just before international football intervened.

Conceding twice in the second half against Hellas Verona saw Genoa's five-game unbeaten streak at Stadio Ferraris finally ended, so they will be keen to start a new run on Sunday.

Genoa Serie A form:

Genoa form (all competitions):

Roma Serie A form:

Team News

Once again French midfielder Enzo Le Fee may be Roma's only absence this weekend, as captain Lorenzo Pellegrini should be available after overcoming a muscular injury sustained while on international duty.

Free signings Mats Hummels and Mario Hermoso should both feature in the visitors' matchday squad for the first time, but Polish winger Nicola Zalewski has been frozen out after refusing to accept a transfer to Turkey.

Set to support Artem Dovbyk up front, Paulo Dybala has scored nine goals against Genoa in Serie A to date - his second-best tally against a single club.

Meanwhile, Roma are the opponents against which Genoa's star striker Andrea Pinamonti has scored his most top-flight goals - five, and with four different teams.

As Junior Messias is ruled out by injury, Ruslan Malinovskyi could come into the hosts' starting XI, but Alberto Gilardino may have some tough choices to make this weekend.

Defensive trio Alan Matturro (shoulder), Mattia Bani (thigh) and Belgium international Koni De Winter (muscular) are all doubtful, while summer signings Fabio Miretti and Brooke Norton-Cuffy (both foot) are set to miss out.

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Gollini; Vogliacco, Bani, Vasquez; Sabelli, Frendrup, Badelj, Malinovskyi, Martin; Vitinha, Pinamonti

Roma possible starting lineup:

Svilar; Mancini, Hermoso, Ndicka; Saelemaekers, Kone, Cristante, Pellegrini, Angelino; Dybala, Dovbyk

We say: Genoa 2-1 Roma

Needing three points to boost his troops before their Europa League campaign kicks off next week, Daniele De Rossi would have hoped for a more straightforward fixture following the international break.

Previews by email