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A shift of power in the city of lanterns

A shift of power in the city of lanterns

 
The Stadio Luigi Ferraris in the port city of Genoa is the home of both Genoa football teams; Genoa CFC the oldest team in Italian football and UC Sampdoria who were only formed in 1946, despite the disparity in age and history the rivalry is fierce. On derby day both fans hold equally impressive choreographs as they try to out do each other, the aristocracy of Genoa’s Gradinata Nord once famously unveiled a banner telling their young rivals to leave the city, the banner stated “The city does not want you Sampdoria…leave Genoa now!.”  
 
This season though the fans of Sampdoria are the ones walking around with a smile of satisfaction with their older esteemed rivals in total chaos. A glance at the Serie A table shows Genoa just two places above the relegation zone, Sampdoria on the other hand, sit 16 points above Il Grifone comfortably in the top ten a welcome relief after last seasons’ struggles, so what has changed?
 
Both teams started the season with new coaches, Gian Piero Gasperini was replaced at Genoa by Ivan Jurić after his miracles at Crotone whilst Vincenzo Montella left Sampdoria and his replacement was Marco Giampaolo, who had continued the fine work at Empoli at Maurizo Sarri left.

 
After a decent start Sampdoria hit a bleak patch with just five wins in 17 matches between rounds 6 and 22, but the eccentric president Massimo Ferrero kept faith with Giampaolo and this proved to be a wise decision. One defeat in ten games including a first league double since 2002/03 in the Derby della Lanterna for I Blucerchiati has definitely seen a shift in the balance of power in the port city maybe proving a point that continuity and faith can be a successful combination in times of crisis.

 
23rd of May 2011 and 30,000 Genoa fans hold a mock funeral for Sampdoria after their relegation to Serie B, but despite this being their ninth consecutive season in the top flight Genoa can be thankful there are three very bad teams in this seasons’ Serie A or the funeral maybe for them. 
 
Sitting comfortably in mid-table and celebrating a huge win over current Serie A champions Juventus after the round 14 fixtures it seemed like things could not be better; since that result however, it has been free-fall and with some embarrassment. Losing to Sampdoria for the second time this season, two 5-0 defeats against Atalanta at home and Pescara away, Enrico Preziosi reacted but in the opposite manner to his rival president. After the defeat by Pescara Juric was promptly removed and replaced by former Hellas Verona head coach Andrea Mandorlini. This had no effect and probably made the situation worse, so much so that just this week Juric has been reinstated as coach again.

 
While one side of Genoa has been calm and serene during a moment of crisis the other has hit the panic button with disastrous effects. With a bottom three containing teams that have only won ten games collectively, fans of Il Grifone can thank their lucky stars the mock funeral is not for them. 


Mark Neale