Lazio vs Genoa preview - Genoa hoping for Borriello boost

Genoa are pinning their hopes on striker Marco Borriello to provide goals for the remainder of the season following the departure of leading scorer Alessandro Matri to Juventus.

Monday's home game against Lazio will be Genoa's first without Matri after the Grifoni club reluctantly saw him join Juve on loan until the end of the season.

Matri, who only arrived to Genoa six months earlier from AC Milan, scored an impressive seven goals in 16 league appearances.

Genoa brought back Borriello, 32, for a third spell at the club with the Italian striker having failed to make a league appearance for Roma since joining the Giallorossi last summer.

"Once I found out I was going back to Genoa I was the happiest man in the world," Borriello told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I've struggled at Roma for different reasons and I haven't been able to play much.

"Now I'm here at Genoa and I'm physically well.

"I still have to find my top form."

Borriello will be on the bench on Monday with M'baye Niang set to partner Diego Perottti in attack against Lazio.

The Grifoni have not won since December 7 and last weekend's 1-1 draw against Fiorentina dropped them to ninth place in the Serie A standings, five points adrift of Monday's rivals.

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini welcomes back defender Luca Antonelli and midfielder Andrea Bertolacci from suspension but Argentinian defender Nicolas Burdisso must serve a one-match ban.

Rivals Lazio will be bolstered by the return of defender Lorik Cana and midfielder Lucas Biglia from suspension.

Both players missed last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Cesena, Lazio's seventh loss of the campaign.

The outcome left the club in fourth place, five points adrift of Napoli, who are third and hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

"I'm disappointed with my team's performance against Cesena," Lazio coach Stefano Pioli said. "Frankly, I expected a lot more from my players having won our previous two league games.

"We've proved in the past that we have a strong team and we can do well and let's hope we can continue to show it."