Five Key Battle to Watch in Genoa vs Lazio: Cataldi Challenges Malinovskyi | OneFootball

On Monday, Genoa will host Lazio in a battle between two wounded Serie A clubs who have only one victory between them so far this season.

The Biancocelesti have yet to earn a point on the road this term, having suffered disappointing defeats in Como and Sassuolo, and they followed it up with a Derby loss to their blood rivals Roma, last weekend.

To make matters even worse for Maurizio Sarri, he travels to Liguria with a completely decimated midfield, having lost Nicolo Rovella, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Matias Vecino to injury, while Reda Belahyane and Matteo Guendouzi are suspended.

Therefore, the Lazio boss has been forced to drop his tried-and-trusted 4-3-3 formation in favor of a 4-2-3-1 lineup, so it will be interesting to see how Lazio will cope with the changes in the system and personnel. So let’s take a closer look at five key battles we expect to occur, at least based on the probable lineups.

Leo Ostigard vs Taty Castellanos

Taty Castellanos will be keen to make a statement after being dropped from the lineup for the Derby della Capitale. But in order to find the back of the net, he’ll have to get past Leo Ostigard. The former Napoli defender is known for man-handling forwards, and will be able to rely on the support of his captain, Johan Vazquez.

Aaron Martin vs Matteo Cancellieri

Matteo Cancellieri has disappointed in the first three rounds of the season, but he should be granted a new opportunity due to the selection crisis. Nevertheless, the young winger will be up against Aaron Martin, who is one of the most underrated left-backs in Serie A. He was even linked to Lazio as a potential replacement for Nuno Tavares.

Morten Frendrup vs Pedro

While it is hard to find a 38-year-old who is as fit as Pedro, the Spaniard certainly won’t be able to match the stamina of 24-year-old Morten Frendrup. The Dane has been one of Genoa’s biggest assets in recent years, as he’s considered a well-rounded midfielder capable of performing several tasks. However, the technically superior veteran will resort to every tool in the box to prevail in this challenge.

Ruslan Malinovskyi vs Danilo Cataldi

Ruslan Malinovskyi will be looking to inspire the Grifone towards victory with his vision and creativity, while Danilo Cataldi will be determined to shut him down. The Lazio youth product has a vast responsibility on his broad shoulders, as he and Toma Basic are the only available first-team midfielders, so Sarri can’t afford to replace him.

Valentin Carboni vs Luca Pellegrini

Luca Pellegrini is expected to get the nod ahead of Nuno Tavares, who endured a nightmarish Derby. The Italian performed admirably in this fixture last season, but this season, he could be up against Inter Milan loanee Valentin Carboni, who is considered one of the most exciting young players in the division. Containing the Argentine could be key for Lazio to emerge victorious.