Genoa vs Lazio preview - New-look Genoa ready for Lazio visit

Only time will tell if a major overhaul of Genoa's playing and coaching staff will prove to be enough to keep the Ligurian club in Serie A.

When club president Enrico Preziosi realised that Luigi Del Neri was not likely to reverse an inexorable slide down the table, he turned to Davide Ballardini to salvage Genoa's season.

Del Neri had already invested heavily in new players but Ballardini clinched the signings of defenders Daniele Portanova and Mattia Cassani, as well as striker Marco Rigoni to bring the number of January recruits up to nine.

Eight players departed the Marassi, either on loan or on a permanent basis.

Ballardini took a creditable point from league leaders Juventus in his first game in charge but next up are third-placed Lazio, who beat Juve to the Coppa Italia final this week.

Genoa's new boss will hope Rigoni can recapture his form of last season, in which he scored 11 goals for Novara before joining Chievo.

The striker told the Corriere dello Sport: "It's a new adventure at a club with history and fantastic tradition. I'm going to give my all for the benefit of the team.

"I'm ready to get back to work, to start playing, and I'm happy to be back in an environment where I can just live football seven days a week."

Marco Borriello's role in the events that unfolded at the Juventus Stadium went largely unheralded, mainly due to Bianconeri boss Antonio Conte's decision to steal the limelight by directing a furious tirade at referee Marco Guida.

Borriello scored against his old side to register the 1-1 draw that sent Juve into meltdown.

He said: "It's been strange in the changing rooms with a lot of players coming and going but I think the transfer market has strengthened us.

"The club is investing in quality and we are improving."

If the season finished today, Genoa would be relegated back to Serie B, but Pescara are only two points away in 17th place.

"The fixture list has been tough on us," Borriello added. "But there are 16 games left and a lot of points to be won. Nothing has been decided yet."

Lazio resume their pursuit of Napoli and Juve after suffering a surprise 1-0 defeat to Chievo at the Stadio Olimpico last weekend.

Brazilian midfielder Bruno Pereirinha bolsters Petkovic's options after joining from Sporting Lisbon, but Hernanes and Ederson are unlikely to feature due to injury.