While waiting for the big names, who all take to the field on Sunday, the 12th day of Serie A, the one that precedes the break dedicated to the national teams and in particular to the play-offs to access the 2018 World Cup in Russia, opens with the Lanterna derby between Genoa and Sampdoria.
The match, as often happens in Liguria in this period, was also at risk due to the bad weather warning, but it should be played regularly and it will be match number 97 in official matches between the two Genoese teams: in Serie A the matches were 68 and see the blucerchiati in clear advantage with 26 wins against 17 of Genoa, with 25 draws.
The last match, on 11 March, saw Sampdoria prevail 1-0 with a goal from Muriel, and the Blucerchiati also won the first leg 2-1. Genoa's last victory dates back to 8 May 2016 with a score of 3-0, while the draw has not been done since February 2015.
The two teams arrive at the awaited match with two opposing states of mind: Sampdoria has started very well, so far they have won all their home games and are sixth in the standings with one game less, to make up against Roma who slightly precedes in the standings. Genoa, on the other hand, is navigating bad waters: if the championship ended today, they would be relegated to Serie B and their coach Juric is already risking the bench today.
