Atalanta vs Genoa preview - Preziosi promises to spend in January

Club president Enrico Preziosi confessed he shares the fans' fears that Genoa are headed for Serie B unless emergency measures are taken.

Defeat in the Derby della Lanterna left Il Grifone rock bottom of Serie A with morale at an all-time low before Sunday's trip to Atalanta, with Preziosi defying supporter protests to promise head coach Luigi Del Neri his job is safe.

The Italian entrepreneur is eager to sell up at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris but, nevertheless, he is primed to give Del Neri considerable backing in the transfer market in a bid to reverse the club's fortunes.

He told La Repubblica: "Are the fans scared of relegation? Even I am scared of Serie B, but I'm sure we won't be relegated because we will make the right adjustments in the transfer window.

"Del Neri will remain on the bench as long as I am president.

"He is part of the project, which includes (sporting director Rino) Foschi and bringing in reinforcements in January. We will buy at least four players."

A group of around 200 angry Genoa fans assembled in the city centre this week, shouting anti-Preziosi songs through megaphones and setting off smoke bombs in response to a dismal run of six straight defeats.

Del Neri will hope to quell the rising rebellion by earning his first point as Rossoblu boss from the trip to Bergamo.

An unexpected 4-1 defeat at Fiorentina knocked the Orobici off their stride to end a three-match winning streak, with head coach Stefano Colantuono saying: "It's a real shame.

"Looking at the result you'd think it was a really one-sided game.

"But we had a great first half and it was only a few lapses in concentration that have cost us."

Luca Cigarini is suspended following his dismissal at the Stadio Artemio Franchi but there was better news for fellow midfielder Davide Biondini, who did not suffer any serious damage from a second-half collision.

Daniele Capelli and Gianpaolo Bellini remain sidelined, though, with Luca Antonelli missing out for the visitors after sustaining a second-degree tear to a hip flexor muscle.

Giammario Piscitella and Cristobal Jorquera are training separately in a bid to accompany the travelling party.