Genoa vs Parma preview - Gasperini calls for total focus

Posted Friday, April 03, 2015 by PA

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini has demanded maximum concentration from his players ahead of Saturday's home game against Udinese with his team looking to get back in contention for European football next season.

The Grifoni have not won since February 15 and have taken two points since to fall to ninth place.

They are nine points adrift of sixth-place Fiorentina, who hold the last Europa League qualifying spot.

"We need to give our all in order to climb up in the standings," Gasperini said to the Italian press. "We want to finish the season strong and qualify for European football.

"In order to do that we need to take advantage of the mistakes that teams ahead of us in the standings make.

"We play our next three games at home, including the rescheduled clash against Parma (April 15), we need to be fully focused and take maximum points."

Lack of goalscoring has been Genoa's main problem in recent weeks.

The Grifoni have failed to find the back of the net in their last two league games, a 2-0 defeat against Chievo and a 1-0 loss at league leaders Juventus in the previous round.

Genoa will have to overcome the absence of midfielder Andrea Bertolacci and goalkeeper Mattia Perin, who are both out injured.

Eugenio Lamanna will replace Perin between the posts.

Genoa have mustered just one win in their last six games at the Luigi Ferraris stadium and take on an Udinese side that have not come out triumphant on the road since January 31.

Udinese are 12th in the standings, four points behind Genoa.

The Friuli outfit travels to Liguria looking to extend their three-match unbeaten run.

Udinese, coached by Andrea Stramaccioni, held Fiorentina to a 2-2 draw before the international break.

The visitors will be without Brazilian defender Danilo, who serves a one-match ban.