Atalanta vs Genoa preview - Gasperini eager to end Genoa slide

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini is hoping his side can stop the rot when they travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta on Sunday.

Last weekend's 2-1 defeat at home to Cagliari was Genoa's fourth successive loss and left the Grifoni in 14th place in the Serie A standings.

Genoa have won just one of their last eight league games and hold an 11-point cushion over the drop zone with four matches remaining.

"We are having a bad end to a good season," Gasperini said. "We have dropped our concentration and this is unacceptable.

"We need to do the best we can in our remaining games, starting on Sunday at Atalanta."

Genoa will have top scorer Alberto Gilardino back for the trip to Bergamo, with the Italian striker having shaken off a minor knee injury sustained against Cagliari.

Gilardino, who has scored 14 league goals for Genoa this season, will lead the Grifoni in attack.

Opponents Atalanta are also going through a bad patch.

The Bergamaschi lost their third match in a row when they fell 2-1 at home to Hellas Verona last time out.

Their poor run of form in recent weeks has seen Atalanta drop out of contention for European football. The Bergamaschi are 11th in the standings, with 46 points from 34 games.

"We are in a better position than many other teams," Atalatanta coach Stefano Colantuono said. "We are disappointed not to give our fans some further joy but we hope to end this negative spell this weekend.

"The only way to achieve this is by working hard and taking one game at a time."

Despite losing their last two home games, Atalanta will fancy their chances of claiming a positive result on Sunday with Genoa having won just once on the road in 2014.

The hosts must overcome the absence of defender Mario Yepes and midfielder Carlos Carmona, both suspended.