week 1 Catania match preview

By: j | August 29th, 2008

Heading forward into first week of the season, Gian Piero Gasperini faces an interesting challenge of a completely revamped lineup with a tough away match in beautiful Sicily against Catania.

Catania’s new coach Walter Zenga has a challenging task ahead as well as this past summer many players who were instrumental in helping the club avoid relegation, left the club. While the club reels from the loss of Juan Vargas (Fiorentina) and Inacio Pia (Napoli), the addition Pablo Ledesma from Boca Juniors could be their saving grace. Yet for the purposes of this review the loss of Juan Vargas, leaves a gaping defensive wound open for the attacking-strength of Il Grifone.

Injuries
Catania:Gionatha Spinesi is out with an injury and Davide Baiocco is suspended.
Genoa:Matteo Paro is out with an injury and Omar Milanetto will join Mr. Baiocco in the sin-bin.

The key to overcoming my Sicilian friends, the Rossazzurri, lays at attacking it’s back-four (assumed) of Rocco Sabato, Lorenzo Stovini, Christian Terlizzi and Gennaro Sardo. However they were a considerably different squad at their home of Stadio Angelo Massimino and Genoa will need to attack early before they get into a controlling rhythm and feed off their highly supporter fans. Romanian international Nicolae Dică, if given the call, can be a very dangerous attacker and must be marked closely.

The Rossoblu attacking trident of Andrea Gasbarroni, Rubén Olivera and Raffaele Palladino will take their cues from ex-Reggina wingers Giandomenico Mesto and Francesco Modesto as they launch forward in a 3-4-3. The young ex-Juventus striker, Raffaele Palladino will be looking to make a important statement to rest of Serie A and could prove to be one of the great stories of the opening week. However the quiet story of the match for Genoa supporters will be the shut-down defensive line headed by Matteo Ferrari, who came over from Roma. His play could radically change the fortunes of the club as they attempt to climb the table.

It’s an exciting start to the Serie A campaign. I will report upon the match as it concludes.