Both struggling at the wrong end of Serie A, promoted Parma and rock-bottom Genoa will scrap it out for three points on Monday, as they meet at Stadio Tardini.
Neither side has won a single game since August, so the stakes will be high when two relegation rivals convene.
Match preview
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Despite coming away from Turin with a commendable 2-2 draw, Parma were again left cursing their inability to keep a lead on Wednesday evening, as they led twice against Juventus but ultimately had to settle for one point.
During an eventful first half, the Gialloblu were in front through Enrico Del Prato and then Simon Sohm, but Juve bit back on both occasions; as a result, only Valencia have dropped more points from winning positions across Europe's top five leagues this term.
Fabio Pecchia's men have effectively let 12 slip from their grasp so far, leaving them with only one league victory in 10 games since achieving promotion as Serie B champions.
Having now drawn all of their last four matches, they would match a club record by finishing Monday's game all-square, but Pecchia will be intent on finally tasting success against one of the few teams below Parma in the standings.
Recent history will be on their side, as the Emilian club have won five of their last six top-flight meetings with Genoa, in addition to winning 2-0 at the Tardini in the clubs' most recent encounter - a second-tier clash in February 2023.
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Bottom of the table with a quarter of the season played, after being beaten 1-0 at home by Fiorentina last time out, Genoa are undoubtedly enduring a crisis.
The Grifone - who finished comfortably in mid-table on their Serie A comeback last season - have scored just seven league goals so far, and since the start of September no team has earned fewer points.
Having collected just two from their last eight games, - failing to find the net in five - Alberto Gilardino's injury-hit squad has been supplemented by the signing of free-agent striker Mario Balotelli, who returns to Italy's top tier after four years away.
Whether 'Super Mario' can revive the Rossoblu remains to be seen, and his first task will be to reach peak fitness, but Gilardino's most immediate concern will be producing a long-awaited win to keep his job as Genoa boss.
After winning their first away fixture against Monza, his side have since lost their next three games on the road, conceding 10 goals in the process, so that may be easier said than done.
Team News
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Parma boss Fabio Pecchia could be without Hernani on Monday evening, after the Brazilian midfielder came on at half time against Juventus and then limped off with a muscular injury.
He may therefore join long-term absentee Alessandro Circati on the sidelines, which would see Mandela Keita, Adrian Bernabe and Simon Sohm retained in the hosts' engine room.
Ange-Yoan Bonny should start up front, while Matteo Cancellieri, Valentin Mihaila and Pontus Almqvist are all vying with Dennis Man for selection on either flank. Man's last five league goals have all come in home games, including three this season; only Inter Milan star Federico Dimarco had created more chances than the Romanian winger (23) after 10 rounds.
Meanwhile, Genoa are in the thick of an injury crisis, as first-choice goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini joins Koni De Winter, Junior Messias, Mattia Bani, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Vitinha and Brooke Norton-Cuffy on the treatment table.
Caleb Ekuban is also struggling for fitness, and Mario Balotelli is not yet up to speed, so Andrea Pinamonti may again be supported by 17-year-old Jeff Ekhator in the final third, with Balotelli available on the bench.
Pinamonti averages one goal involvement every 63 minutes against Parma in Serie A, so he will hope to continue in that vein on Monday evening.
Parma possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Coulibaly, Del Prato, Balogh, Valeri; Keita, Sohm; Man, Bernabe, Mihaila; Bonny
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Leali; Matturro, Vogliacco, Vasquez; Sabelli, Thorsby, Badelj, Frendrup, Martin; Ekhator, Pinamonti
We say: Parma 2-1 Genoa
Having shown clear potential and come close to picking up several more points, Parma should finally capitalise against Genoa, taking advantage of their visitors' woes.
Short of numbers and low on confidence, the Grifone will suffer another defeat, leaving them stuck to the foot of the standings.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
