Genoa vs Catania preview - Izco asks for immediate response

Posted Saturday, March 01, 2014 by PA

Catania captain Mariano Izco has called on his team-mates to bounce back from their disappointing performance at Chievo last weekend by taking all three points at Genoa on Sunday.

The Sicilians lost 2-0 Verona to see their four-match unbeaten run come to an end.

The outcome dropped Catania to 19th place, two points from safety.

"We took a step backwards against Chievo," Izco said. "We didn't play well and we made mistakes.

"But we have to keep fighting until the end as we haven't achieved anything yet.

"We need strong performances in our next few games in order to climb up in the standings.

"On Sunday we need to show more hunger than Genoa to come out triumphant."

Catania lost Lucas Castro to a knee injury last weekend and the Argentinian striker will be sidelined for at least a month.

To complicate matters for coach Rolando Maran, striker Pablo Barrientos is still out injured while forward Gonzalo Bergessio is suspended this weekend.

Bruno Petkovic, who has made just three league appearances this season and has yet to score, will lead Catania's attack.

Rivals Genoa will fancy their chances of taking maximum points with Catania winless on the road this season and the Grifoni having lost just one of their last nine league games at the Luigi Ferraris stadium.

Genoa came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Napoli on Monday.

"It's not easy to play in Naples but we did a good job in the first half to stop Napoli," Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini said. "We deserved the point.

"I'm very happy with the determination shown by my players but we have to keep going."

Genoa are 11th in the standings, 12 points clear of the drop zone.

The hosts will be without midfielder Francesco Matuzalem, who serves a one-match ban.