Genoa vs Cesena Preview

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini has told his players they must move on quickly from the disappointment of last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Palermo if they are to retain their European ambitions.

The Grifoni host third-bottom Cesena on Sunday with a six-point gap between them and the last Europa League qualifying place and only seven games left to play.

Their hopes of bridging that gap were dealt a blow last weekend as they suffered their ninth loss of the campaign in Siciliy which left them in seventh place.

“We are very disappointed not to have taken a win that would have put us closer to the European places,” Gasperini said to the Italian press. “We played well and put in a good performance at Palermo but we made mistakes and were made to pay.

“We cannot look back. We must turn the page and think of the match against Cesena.

“We have to try and to do the best we can in our remaining games and see what happens.”

Gasperini will have to watch Sunday’s match from the stands as he serves a one-match touchline ban after being sent off for dissent during last weekend’s encounter.

Genoa have collected seven points from a possible nine in their last three games at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris and take on a Cesena side who have won just once on the road this season.

The Emilia-Romagna side are without a win since March 1 and have collected four points since.

Last weekend’s 0-0 defeat at Sampdoria left Cesena in 18th place, seven points adrift of safety.

“We just need to focus on ourselves and not on others,” Cesena coach Domenico Di Carlo said. “There are still 21 points up for grabs and we will fight until the end of the season.

“I’m very happy we took a deserved point against a great side like Sampdoria and this result will give us confidence to go to Genoa knowing that we can do well.”

Cesena welcome back Colombian midfielder Carlos Carbonero from suspension while midfielder Gaby Mudingayi must serve a one-match ban.