Ballardini has warned Atalanta

will face

on Sunday in a

match.

“It’s going to be a difficult game, but we really want to make it tough for Atalanta too,”

said smiling coach in a press conference just days after losing 3-2 against

Juventus

.

“Atalanta are in good shape, but we’re not doing badly either. Seeing the lads face Juventus with that focus and character was really pleasing.

“We’re going to need another great performance in

Bergamo

. If you meet Atalanta straight after a

game, they probably won’t be at 100 percent, but if they can take it one match at a time and focus in training, they have the kind of strength and technique that is on a par with the very best in Italy.”

Genoa are bolstered in January by midfielder

Kevin Strootman

and defender

Jerome Onguene

in the January transfer window.

“They are strong players who arrive with a lot of enthusiasm, the desire to prove they can be very useful. I’ve only seen them a couple of times in training, but they appear to be in good shape and physically ready to play.

“

Goran Pandev

is available again, as he had two or three training sessions with the group.

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