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Serie A

Only time will tell if selling Hernan Crespo to Parma was a wise move by Genoa, who host Chievo on Sunday.

The departure of the Argentinian striker to Parma earlier this week came as a surprise to many.

The 34-year-old had joined Genoa from Inter Milan last summer and was the club's joint leading scorer alongside Giandomenico Mesto with five league goals apiece.

"Our project is to renew the squad," said Genoa president Enrico Preziosi.

"We are counting on youth and we have talented young players. Time will tell why we made the choice of selling Crespo to Parma.

"Crespo has always behaved correctly and is a great professional."

Crespo's departure was not the only surprise the club pulled this week as the decision to sell defender Giuseppe Biava to Lazio caught many many off guard, including the player himself.

"It's a pity," said Biava. "It has been an unexpected transfer.

"I thought I would stay here a long time. It would have been great to have stayed at least until June.

"I would have remained even if it meant earning less money.

"I leave a club that is healthy, united and determined."

Genoa go into this weekend's match on the back of a goalless draw at Napoli.

The outcome marked the fourth time this season that the Grifoni failed to get on the scoresheet and left them 10th in the standings.

However, Genoa coach Gianpiero Gasperini put no importance on the outcome and hopes his team can extend their three-match unbeaten run tomorrow.

"We have scored so many goals this season and the game against Napoli was just one of the rare times where we didn't score," said Gasperini.

"We are the second best striking force (35 goals) in the competition behind Inter and level with Roma and Milan."

The Grifoni also have the second weakest defence in the competition with 36 goals conceded in 22 games.

Rivals Chievo extended the gap to the relegation zone to nine points after last weekend's 1-1 draw with Bologna.

Having drawn their last two league games, the men from Verona will now be hoping to return to winning ways when they make the journey to the Luigi Ferraris stadium.

"We are giving continuity to our results," said Chievo defender Santiago Morero.

"The result against Bologna was important for our battle to avoid the drop.

"Now we have to show the same battling performance as we did against Bologna when we visit Genoa."

The Flying Donkeys have not won on the road since December 9 while Genoa have lost just once at home this season.

Chievo are still without injured pair Fabio Moro and Elvis Abbruscato.

The good news for Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo is the return of Davide Mandelli, Giampiero Pinzi and Luca Rigoni from suspension.

The hosts will be without injured midfielder Houssine Kharja and defender Domenico Criscito, who must serve a one match ban.