Tomas Rincon says Genoa can shake off struggles with win over Sampdoria + Serie A UAE times

Juventus' Claudio Marchisio, left, challenges Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Juventus at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Milan // Genoa host Sampdoria in the city derby hoping to show their current struggles are temporary as Serie A resumes on Tuesday following a two-week festive break.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s men have slipped to 17th in Italy’s top flight to sit just two points above third-from-bottom Frosinone after a run of disastrous results leading up to Christmas.

Before then, Genoa had enjoyed a strong run which had left them firmly in the top half of the table and Colombian midfielder Tomas Rincon believes a win on Tuesday will show their league position is misleading.

“We’ve had a good rest over the festive break and we’re determined to go out and show we don’t deserve to be where we are in the table right now,” Rincon told Sky Sport.

“The derby is a special game that is totally different from all the others, because there’s only one thing that matters and that is victory.”

Genoa’s last win at home came against Sassuolo at the end of November and since then Gasperini’s men have suffered home defeats to struggling Carpi and Bologna while conceding defeat at title challengers Inter Milan and Roma.

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In the first Serie A game of 2016 and at the clubs’ shared Luigi Ferraris stadium on Tuesday, sparks are expected to fly.

Sampdoria have endured struggles of their own, only ending a run of four defeats with a draw away to Lazio and a 2-0 home win over Palermo in the week before Christmas.

That mediocre run of results led some to question the club’s decision to sack coach Walter Zenga at the start of November and replace him with ex-Fiorentina handler Vincenzo Montella.

Montella said the festive break has given him time to reflect on their strategy for the second half of the season, but admits Samp won’t be taking Genoa lightly.

“We had time during the holidays to recharge our batteries so we’re looking for a positive start to the new year. Mentally, we’re ready,” Montella said.

“To win this game we’ll need determination, but it won’t be enough. We need to be lucid and have full respect for our opponents.

“Genoa are a top side and at the start of the season were one of the more complete squads in the league before they suffered due to a number of injuries.”

While Genoa are hoping AC Milan striker Alessio Cerci will reply positively to their offer of a move to the club during the winter transfer market, Samp on Monday welcomed Argentinian midfielder Ricardo Alvarez on a six-month deal from Inter Milan following a loan spell with Sunderland in England’s Premier League.

The remainder of the midweek fixtures will be held on Wednesday when Inter travel to Empoli looking to protect their one-point lead over Fiorentina, who are away to Palermo.

Napoli, who sit in third also one point off the pace, host Torino while champions Juventus, in fourth at three points behind Inter, host Verona.

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Roma are away at Chievo while AC Milan, in sixth at eight points behind Inter, are at home to Bologna.

Serie A fixtures (in UAE time)

Tuesday

Genoa v Sampdoria, 11.45pm

Wednesday

Udinese v Atalanta, 3.30pm

Palermo v Fiorentina, 6pm

Sassuolo v Frosinone, 6pm

Milan v Bologna, 6pm

Chievo v Roma, 6pm

Juventus v Verona, 6pm

Lazio v Carpi, 6pm

Empoli v Inter Milan, 9pm

Napoli v Torino, 11.45pm

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