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As we head into a staggered final day of the season in Italy’s top-flight, these will be two sides happy with their lot this year but a little concerned about the immediate future.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 24th May, 2024 - UK – 19:45 / US EST – 14:45 / US PST – 12:45
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: This match will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK. / This match will not be televised in the US.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: This match will be streamed live via the TNT Sports app in the UK. / This match will be streamed live via Paramount+ in the US.
GENOA PREVIEW: OFF-FIELD BAD, ON-PITCH GOOD
In their first season back in the top-flight following promotion last season, Genoa have performed relatively impressively to head into the final day of the season sitting comfortably outside of the bottom three and up towards the middle-of-the-table after some impressive coaching from Alberto Gilardino.
They also, with help from 777 Partners, invested in some impressive additions in the summer such as Ruslan Malinovskiy and Mateo Retegui. However, issues with tax payments and United States authorities looking into 777 Partners has put all of their clubs, such as Vasco da Gama in Brazil and Belgium’s Standard Liege, in jeopardy.
BOLOGNA PREVIEW: A REMARKABLE CAMPAIGN
When Bologna appointed former Paris Saint-Germain coach Thiago Motta as their new manager early last season, they would not have expected that less than two seasons later they would be back in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over 60 years but the former Italy international has delivered that with an excellent style of football.
He is, though, expected to depart the club this summer and take up the role as Juventus’ new manager in the second post-Massimiliano Allegri era. Bologna faced Juventus in their most recent outing last week and raced into a 2-0 lead early on before making it 3-0 just after half-time but the belligerent Old Lady fought back to share a thrilling 3-3 draw.
GENOA TEAM NEWS: JUNIOR MESSIAS IS A DOUBT
Alberto Gilardino has more or less a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s visit of Bologna with no definite absentees. However, the Genovese are likely to remain without former AC Milan man Junior Messias.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Josep Martinez; Vogliacco, De Winter, Johan Vasquez; Spence, Frendrup, Badelj, Strootman, Caricol; Ekuban, Retegui
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Junior Messias (Injured)
BOLOGNA TEAM NEWS: NO FAREWELL FOR ZIRKZEE
Bologna are losing their manager and will likely lose key attacker Joshua Zirkzee this summer with the Netherlands international striker missing the end to this season with a hamstring injury, whilst Lewis Ferguson is unavailable with an ACL injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Skorupski; Posch, Jhon Lucumi, Calafiori, Kristiansen; Freuler; Odgaard, Aebischer, Urbanski, Ndoye; Castro
UNAVAILABLE: Ferguson (Injured), Zirkzee (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
GENOA VS BOLOGNA PREDICTION
Genoa will be playing in front of a home crowd more than happy with performances on the pitch but concerned by goings on off it. It will therefore lead to a fairly unusual atmosphere on this final day. Bologna, on the other hand, will be hoping to send off Thiago Motta with a welcome farewell, albeit they will be missing both key players Lewis Ferguson and Joshua Zirkzee. Bologna are the favourites, though, despite those absentees.
GENOA VS BOLOGNA TIP: BOLOGNA TO WIN