Genoa go into Genoa vs Venezia with more uncertainty than usual. The match is set for 2026-10-25 at 14:00 UTC at the Ferraris, and Daniele De Rossi is still waiting on a squad shaken by an intestinal virus. He said the dressing room was hit during the week, with many players and many members of the staff affected.
The virus-hit selection puzzle
De Rossi's biggest issue is not a tactical one yet, it is a medical one. He said the virus spread through the group, and Genoa are still making final checks before deciding who is fit enough to face Venezia.
Tommaso Baldanzi was among those affected, but he has returned to the group. Lorenzo Colombo was also hit by the virus and had already been coming back from an ankle sprain, while Kingsley Ehizibue is under assessment.
The same is true of F. Meichtry, who has shaken off an injury sustained with his national team and is expected to be in the squad. Even Baldanzi and Colombo should be read as options under review rather than confirmed starters.
What the numbers say about the stakes
The selection issue lands on top of a relegation game with little margin. Genoa are 17th on 4 points from 7 league matches, while Venezia are 20th on 3 points. That leaves Marassi looking like a direct survival test, not a routine home fixture.
Venezia also arrive with some confidence after a home win against Napoli under Davide Nicola, so De Rossi does not get the comfort of a fragile visitor. Genoa's own opening to the league has been uneven, and the virus only adds another layer of uncertainty before kickoff.
The final checks will decide how much De Rossi can change, and how much he has to keep intact. By Saturday afternoon, the focus will be on who makes the squad and who is left out at the Ferraris.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
