Preview: Genoa vs. Bologna - prediction, team news, lineups

A crushing defeat to Napoli sealed the Grifone's fate - sending them down to the second tier for the first time in 15 years - and they have only pride left to play for on the final day.

Match preview

Closing a miserable campaign for the club - who changed managers twice and came under new ownership in mid-season - Genoa dropped into Serie B following last Sunday's 3-0 loss in Naples, which leaves them three points behind 17th-placed Salernitana with just one game remaining.

Courtesy of a negative head-to-head record between the teams this term, the Ligurians will therefore be demoted following Saturday's match; returning to Serie B for the first time since 2007 - when, incidentally, both Napoli and Juventus were also promoted to the top flight.

Though beating Napoli on their own patch was always going to be a tall task for his struggling side, Alexander Blessin's men had pulled off an improbable victory over Juventus a week previously, to keep the dream alive.

However, in a campaign featuring just four league wins, perhaps the most telling blow was last month's Derby della Lanterna defeat to arch-rivals Sampdoria, who have since stayed up at Genoa's expense.

Beaten 1-0 on that occasion, the Grifone have scored six goals fewer than any other team in Serie A this term, and have now failed to find the net in five consecutive away games, following their latest failure at Stadio Maradona - the club's worst such run since 1993.

Blessin was certainly left in an invidious position after previous coaches Davide Ballardini and Andriy Shevchenko had both been sacked, but the German tactician will want his team to go out with a bang at this weekend.

Seeking victory to pull within a point of their 11th-placed local rivals, last week Bologna were instead outplayed by fellow Emilian outfit Sassuolo and are unable to finish in the top half of the final Serie A standings.

After an upturn in form during April, the Felsinei had previously conceded deep into stoppage time to squander a point against rock-bottom Venezia, and after losing 3-1 at home to Sassuolo, are in danger of ending on a sour note - with three straight defeats.

Recent months have demonstrated the potential of Sinisa Mihajlovic's side, as while their coach received hospital treatment for leukaemia during a difficult time at the club, his team held Milan, Roma and Juventus to draws, before shocking Scudetto hopefuls Inter with a 2-1 win at Dall'Ara.

Nonetheless, the season is set to conclude in mid-table mediocrity, much as in the past two campaigns, when Bologna finished 12th on both occasions.

They could match that position this year with a win over Genoa - against whom they drew 2-2 in September's reverse fixture; teenage talent Aaron Hickey opening the scoring in an entertaining encounter - but only if Udinese do not beat Salernitana on Sunday.

Genoa Serie A form:

Bologna Serie A form:

Team News

After back-to-back defeats, Sinisa Mihajlovic could make changes to his Bologna team on Saturday evening, and he is expected to have a full squad to choose from.

Current incumbent Riccardo Orsolini, who scored a consolation goal in the derby defeat to Sassuolo last week, will therefore aim to head off the challenges of Atalanta loanee Musa Barrow and Nicola Sansone to support top scorer Marko Arnautovic up front.

Leading the line in Mihajlovic's favoured 3-5-2 formation, the latter has scored 14 league goals this season - a new personal record for a single campaign.

Meanwhile, Genoa's Serie A swansong will take place without Stefano Sturaro and Nikola Maksimovic due to injury, while Nicolo Rovella is doubtful. Hernani and Morten Frendrup are favourites to deputise for Sturaro in central midfield.

Still the Grifone's leading scorer this season, despite enduring an ongoing nine-game drought, former Bologna striker Mattia Destro netted one of his nine league goals in the reverse fixture at Dall'Ara, and will hope to regain his place up front, ahead of young Kelvin Yeboah.

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Sirigu; Hefti, Bani, Ostigard, Criscito; Badelj, Frendrup; Ekuban, Amiri, Gudmundsson; Destro

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Soumaoro, Medel, Theate; De Silvestri, Dominguez, Schouten, Soriano, Hickey; Barrow, Arnautovic

We say: Genoa 2-1 Bologna

Up against one of Serie A's weakest away sides this season - Bologna have picked up just three wins and averaged less than a point per game on the road - Genoa can sign off with a rare victory.

The visitors cannot be caught from behind in the standings, so should end a satisfactory campaign 13th, and can then plan for next season in the top flight - unlike their unfortunate hosts.

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