Genoa vs Fiorentina Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Italian Serie A
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THE FACTS
When is Genoa vs Fiorentina on and what time does it start? Genoa vs Fiorentina will take place on Saturday 19th August, 2023 – 19:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Genoa vs Fiorentina? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Genoa vs Fiorentina on in the UK? TNT Sports have the rights to televise Serie A matches in the UK, so it is worth checking their schedule for Genoa vs Fiorentina
Where can I stream Genoa vs Fiorentina in the UK? If Genoa vs Fiorentina is televised on TNT Sports, then subscribers can stream the match live on discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
GENOA
Genoa gained promotion back to Serie A at the first attempt after finishing second in Serie B last season. Il Grifone, under the attacking and ambitious management of former Italy forward Alberto Gilardino, come into this on the back of an entertaining 4-3 victory over Modena in the first round of the Coppa Italia last weekend, highlighting what their high-scoring ways could be about in Italy’s top-flight this season.
They have had a relatively impressive transfer window, too, with Junior Messias recently arriving on loan from AC Milan being a recent standout, albeit he is unavailable for the start of the season dur to injury. The real star attraction of this summer, though, has been the signing of Mateo Retegui from Boca Juniors. The Argentine-born striker made his Italy debut in March and scored against England so it is seen as a coup for a newly-promoted side to have poached him.
FIORENTINA
Last season, Fiorentina finished just outside of the top seven so did not qualify for Europe but Juventus’ expulsion means they are back in the UEFA Europa Conference League after being runners’ up last season. I Viola were runners’ up in both that competition to West Ham United and the Coppa Italia to Internazionale so they will be keen on continuing some impressive performances.
The visitors have lost key centre-back Igor Julio to Brighton and Hove Albion but they have also made some interesting additions with Lucas Beltran and M’Bala Nzola boosting their strike force for combined fees of over £20 million. They have also signed Arthur and Yerry Mina to compliment a young and vibrant, attacking squad, well coached by Vincenzo Italiano.
THE TEAM NEWS
GENOA
Alberto Gilardino’s preferred formation is a 4-3-3 and getting onto the front foot. He will be without Marko Pajac for this opening game of the 2023/24 Serie A season due to the defender suffering an ACL injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Martinez; Hefti, De Winter, Vasquez, Martin; Thorsby, Badelj, Strootman; Aramu, Retegui, Gudmundsson
UNAVAILABLE: Pajac (Injured), Messias (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
FIORENTINA
In reaching the UEFA Europa Conference League final, Vincenzo Italiano used a few different systems but on this opening day, with a clean slate, he will likely revert to his preferred attacking 4-3-3 shape, although he will be without key midfielder Gaetano Castrovilli due to injury, who failed a medical ahead of a move to AFC Bournemouth earlier this summer.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Christensen; Dodo, Milenkovic, Martinez Quarta, Biraghi; Arthur, Amrabat, Mandragora; Ikone, Nzola, Gonzalez
UNAVAILABLE: Castrovilli (Injured), Barak (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Both of these managers are keen on playing a front foot style of football, as is the common way in Serie A in recent years. They are both expecting to challenge towards the top-half this season. Genoa, despite only just gaining promotion, will view their relegation in 2022 as a bit of a surprise and anomaly so, with their additions so far this summer, will not even contemplate another season of underperformance like that. Fiorentina have the distraction, once again, of Thursday night European football but they should remain an entertaining side and this one could be quite fun for the neutral.
TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
