Genoa vs Cagliari preview - Genoa boss demands improvement

Posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 by PA

Genoa had high hopes at the start of the season but the club has had a campaign to forget heading into Wednesday's match against Cagliari.

Since gaining promotion to Italy's top flight in 2007, the Grifoni have managed to finish every season in the top half of the Serie A standings.

However, Genoa have failed to deliver and they will be fortunate to avoid the drop this time.

With three games remaining, they lie just one place and one point clear of the drop zone.

"We have to rediscover our winning touch," Genoa coach Luigi De Canio said. "We are aware that there are less games left to play and we need to get a positive result to climb up in the standings.

"We need to do better from now on."

Genoa lost 3-2 against Bologna on Sunday to extend their winless run to 14 games.

De Canio's men face a difficult climax to the season with Udinese and Palermo to follow after Wednesday's encounter at the Mario Rigamonti stadium.

The game will be played in Brescia as Genoa are being forced to play their final two home games of the campaign away from home and behind closed doors as punishment for the fan protest which forced their match against Siena to be suspended for 45 minutes last month, when the players were told to remove their shirts by outraged supporters

Rivals Cagliari took another step towards safety in Saturday's goalless draw against Chievo.

The result lifted the Sardinian outfit three places and six points clear of Genoa.

"We are just one step away," Cagliari midfielder Victor Ibarbo said. "We now face a difficult game against Genoa and we will try to get the points we need to ensure we are safe."

De Canio will have all of his players available with midfielder Bosko Jankovic returning from suspension.