Genoa's Baldanzi in Contention for Juventus Clash as De Rossi Seeks Statement Win
Genoa manager Daniele De Rossi will have attacking midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi available for selection for Monday's Serie A clash against Juventus in Turin. According to reports in Italy, the 21-year-old, who has recovered from recent physical problems, has trained consistently and is now a candidate for a starting role. His potential inclusion comes as Genoa seeks a first away victory against a top-tier side this season.
Baldanzi's return offers a significant boost to a Genoa side that has been revitalized under De Rossi's leadership. The former Roma captain took charge in January and has overseen a dramatic upturn, with the team collecting 27 points from his 20 matches in charge. This form has lifted the Grifone to 33 points, edging them closer to the safety mark, which is widely estimated to require between five and eight more points from their final eight games.
The fixture against Juventus represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Genoa has not won in Turin for 35 years, with their last victory dating back to January 1991. They came close to a landmark result against AC Milan earlier this season, only for a last-second penalty miss to deny them all three points. A positive result against Juventus would serve as a definitive statement of their progress under De Rossi and provide a major step towards mathematical safety.
The context of the relegation battle adds further intrigue. While Genoa's remaining schedule includes matches against direct rivals like Fiorentina, Pisa, and Lecce, it is also packed with fixtures against clubs fighting for European qualification, including Juventus, Milan, Como, and Atalanta. Securing points from these difficult games could prove crucial. De Rossi already masterminded a home victory over his former club Roma, breaking a perceived taboo against top-half teams, and will now aim to replicate that feat on the road.
De Rossi faces a novel managerial duel against Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti, under whom he played for four seasons at Roma. The Genoa squad will be without the injured Maxime Cornet and Brooke Norton-Cuffy, but otherwise has a full roster. Baldanzi's likely partnership with fellow attacker Junior Messias is seen as a key tactical ploy. His creativity and technical quality could be vital in unlocking a Juventus defense that narrowly beat Genoa 1-0 in the reverse fixture earlier this season, a match where the Ligurian side played with ten men for a period due to an injury.
For Baldanzi, a product of Empoli's youth academy who joined Genoa last summer, a strong performance on such a stage would underscore his development. His availability symbolizes the increased depth and confidence within De Rossi's squad, which the manager has fostered by blurring the lines between starters and reserves and defining clear roles for all players. Monday's match is not just about points for survival; it is a chance for Genoa to confirm their renewed competitive edge against the league's elite.
