Genoa have won just four times against Inter in the past 50 years but that is not the hot topic heading into the match tomorrow at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Both teams expressed their surprise after Inter striker Diego Milito was left out of the list of 23 candidates for this year's FIFA Balon d'Or award.

The Argentina international, a former player at Genoa, was pivotal in helping Inter win an historic Coppa Italia, Serie A and Champions League treble last season.

Milito scored both goals in Inter's 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final and he was the only scorer in Inter's 1-0 wins in the Coppa Italia final over Roma and the scudetto-clinching season finale at Siena.

"I'm sorry for Diego," said Inter president Massimo Moratti. "I find it incredible that he was not even considered."

Genoa, where Milito rose to fame before joining Inter in the summer of 2009, issued a statement on their website which read: "An injustice has been done.

"(It is) a grave absence if one considers Milito's role in not only Inter's scudetto triumph but also in the Champions League."

Milito, who is recovering from a muscular injury, is unlikely to face his former team on Sunday.

Inter coach Rafael Benitez is set to rest the player with an eye on next week's Champions League showdown at Tottenham.

The Nerazzurri head into the encounter looking to rediscover their goalscoring touch after hitting the back of the net only twice in their last four league games.

Last weekend's 1-1 draw against Sampdoria dropped Inter to third place, two points behind city rivals Milan and four points adrift of league leaders Lazio after eight games played.

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini will be hoping his team can overcome their injury woes again this weekend.

The Grifoni beat Catania 1-0 despite having to do without five players through injury.

To complicate matters for the hosts, striker Raffaele Palladino sustained a thigh injury last weekend and will be sidelined for a month.

Genoa, whose last victory against Inter dates back to 1994, lie ninth in the table, four points behind their opponents.

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