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Can Daniele De Rossi Solve Genoa's Defensive Slide Against Fiorentina?

Early-season pressure has mounted swiftly at Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Genoa welcomes Fiorentina for Matchday 6 on Saturday, October 10, 2026, sitting in 19th place with only one point from five matches.

With four losses already recorded, Daniele De Rossi's side desperately needs to change course to pull away from the foot of the table. Fiorentina arrives in 17th position with four points, having taken one win and one draw alongside three defeats, but with clear signs of stabilization under Paolo Vanoli.

What does recent form say about both sides?

The hosts have struggled for traction in the league, remaining without a victory in 10 straight Serie A fixtures reaching back to April 2026. Consecutive league defeats have compounded the issue, most recently a 2-1 reverse away to Parma on September 20, where Milutin Osmajic delivered Genoa's only goal.

Their only defensive shutout this season came in a 1-0 Coppa Italia win against FC Sudtirol Bolzano on September 15, and an October 2 friendly brought another setback with a 2-0 loss to Rapid Bucharest.

Fiorentina, by contrast, has regained footing following a sudden managerial transition. The club removed Fabio Grosso after just four games and brought back Paolo Vanoli, who has overseen an unbeaten three-match run in competitive action with two victories and a draw.

That run includes a 4-2 victory away to Venezia FC on September 11, a 3-0 triumph over SC Pisa on September 15, and a 1-1 home draw against Napoli on September 20 with an Alex Jimenez goal.

What are the key selection issues and tactical concerns?

De Rossi faces a major squad limitation in attack. Forward Lorenzo Colombo is sidelined for three to four weeks after sustaining a left ankle sprain, according to a Mediaset report. That leaves the hosts having to reorganize their frontline without one of their primary options.

At the other end of the pitch, Genoa's structure without the ball requires immediate repair. All 10 goals the Grifone have conceded in Serie A this season have come during open play.

Against a Fiorentina attack that has found the net eight times across its last three competitive matches, that lack of open-play solidity poses an acute threat.

The bottom line

History offers little comfort for the home side. Fiorentina holds an 11-match unbeaten Serie A streak against Genoa dating back to September 2019, collecting five wins and six draws along the way.

Unless De Rossi plugs the gaps that have yielded 10 open-play goals and unearths an effective replacement for the injured Colombo, Fiorentina holds the upper hand to extend both its head-to-head dominance and Genoa's league misery.

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