Two of Serie A’s most struggling sides will meet on Friday for what is a must-win clash for either side with relegation fears increasing week on week for Genoa just as Sampdoria gradually distance themselves from the bottom three in this intense Derby della Lanterna match.
This is a derby that tends to fly under the radar in Italy with neither side ever really putting up a test in the top half, but it is one that sees them share the Stadio Luigi Ferraris but it is fueled by the fact Genoa is Italy's oldest football club while Sampdoria was formed later in 1946.
The two last met in March this year where it was a 1-1 draw, but Sampdoria are the club that sees them win the most games in this derby with 41 victories, with Genoa, on the other hand, winning this meet just 26 times.
Roberto D'Aversa’s men are now sat in 15th in Serie A but they have once again seen their decent from tuble once again. The club lost to Lazio last weekend 3-1, the exact same scoreline they lost to against Fiorentina in midweek also.
It now also means they have one of the worst defensive records in the league with 32 goals conceded in only 16 games.
Sampdoria did hit some form throughout October and November, however, as they managed to beat Spezia 2-1, beat fellow relegation fighters Salernitana 2-0, before their most impressive display of the season against Hellas Verona, where they ran out 3-1 winners against the high scorers.
As for Genoa, it’s been another torrid season for them and they really are in the midst of a disaster as rivals like Sampdoria begin to gradually pick up points and distance themselves from them.
It's now 13 games without a win for Genoa as they managed to beat then-bottom-placed Cagliari 3-2, which to put in perspective, Cagliari have now moved ahead of them in the table.
Genoa have been racking up the draws a lot as well recently, but they've also gone four games without a goal where they have also let in seven. Prior to this, draws in must-win clashes against Udinese, Venezia and Spezia all came and it's why they are being tipped to be in Serie B next campaign.
Given how Genoa have won just one game all season long and how they have lost every game so far in Serie A, Forebet predicts another defeat here and a win that will see under 2.5 goals for Sampdoria.