Genoa look to heal wounded pride

Genoa CFC will look to avenge their heaviest European defeat following a 3-0 loss at LOSC Lille Métropole on Matchday 3, with the French side leading the race to finish top of UEFA Europa League Group B.

Previous meetings
• The two teams had not met prior to Matchday 3 and this is Genoa's first home game against French opposition. Lille have won all three of their previous matches in Italy without conceding a goal.

Match background
• Lille are unbeaten in seven European games this season, recording six wins and one draw for an aggregate score of 19-5. They are averaging well over two goals a game, while conceding less than one.

• The 3-0 win against Genoa on Matchday 3 matched Lille's biggest home victory in UEFA club competition and was also Genoa's heaviest European defeat.

• Genoa have won six of their seven European home matches to date, with their sole loss a 3-2 reverse against AFC Ajax in the 1991/92 UEFA Cup semi-finals.

• Lille have won four of their last five European away games, with their only defeat in that span a perfectly respectable 1-0 loss at Manchester United FC in the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League first knockout round.

Team facts
• Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini is currently enjoying his first season in European competition. The former Juventus trainee and youth team coach joined the club in 2006 after earning his managerial spurs at FC Crotone, leading the Rossoblù to Serie A in his first campaign.

• Lille coach Rudi Garcia represented the club as a midfielder in the 1980s, prior to spells with SM Caen and FC Martigues. His coaching career has seen him take charge of AS Saint-Etienne, Dijon FCO and Le Mans UC 72, before he returned to Lille in 2008.

• Lille goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle and Genoa defender Emiliano Moretti were team-mates at Group B rivals Valencia CF from 2004 to 2008.

• Lille's Túlio De Melo and Genoa goalkeeper Marco Amelia both started last season at US Città di Palermo, though the Brazilian forward left without making a single Serie A appearance.

• Lille's Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is on loan from Genoa's domestic rivals AC Milan.

• Genoa captain Marco Rossi faced Lille with ACF Fiorentina in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup third round, with his side losing 1-0 at home and 2-0 away.

• Genoa's Alberto Zapater scored the first goal in the history of the UEFA Europa League group stage with a free-kick four minutes into his side's 2-0 Matchday 1 win against SK Slavia Praha.

• Lille's 5-1 win at Slavia on Matchday 2 was their biggest away win in UEFA club competition.

• Genoa's Moroccan midfielder Houssine Kharja will not play again in Group B, having been ruled out for six months after damaging ligaments in his left knee during training on 14 October.

• Lille visit Valencia CF on Matchday 5, with Genoa travelling to Slavia on the same day, 2 December.