Genoa vs Inter Milan Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Italian Serie A
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777 Partners controversially remain in power in Genoa despite their off-field issues. On the pitch, they achieved a respectable mid-table finish in Serie A last season as they kick off the new campaign against the defending champions, Internazionale.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 17th August, 2024 - UK – 5:30pm / US ET – 12:30pm / US PT – 9:30am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports OR Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ OR Cannot be streamed / US – Paramount+
GENOA PREVIEW: OFF-FIELD ISSUES
As mentioned, Genoa are dealing and navigating their way through off-the-field issues and there have been some on-pitch concerns for this season as a result with top scorer, Italy international Mateo Retegui, being sold on to Atalanta this summer and they have also lost the likes of Kevin Strootman and Djed Spence this summer.
Former Italy international and 2006 FIFA World Cup winner Alberto Gilardino remains in charge of the Genovese, though, so that does provide some stability. They have been quiet in the transfer window but some loanees have become permanent additions, such as Morten Thorsby and Vitinha.
INTER MILAN PREVIEW: DEFENDING THE SCUDETTO
Former Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi has proven himself in the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League to be a good manager in cup competitions but that became apparent in the league last season, too, as they absolutely dominated Serie A with the Nerazzurri romping to their 20th Italian title and the second star on their badge.
In the summer transfer window, Inter have been relatively quiet but they have made a few interesting additions, including goalkeeper Josep Martinez from Genoa. The two free transfers that they have made, Mehdi Taremi and Piotr Zielinski, will likely be very shrewd but the profile and age of the pair can be described as ‘very Inter’.
GENOA TEAM NEWS: A FEW CONCERNS
Genoa are missing a bit of experience for this opening weekend with centre-back duo Alan Matturro and Alessandro Marcandalli both unavailable alongside attacker David Ankeye.
Genoa and Gilardino have preferred a diamond system in the last year or so but that is reliant on the form of Albert Gudmundsson, who is being linked with a move away, too. That means we could see a tweak to a back three like was the case in their defeat of Reggiana in the Coppa Italia last week.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Gollini; Vogliacco, Bani, De Winter; Sabelli, Frendrup, Badelj, Thorsby, Caricol; Vitinha, Junior Messias
UNAVAILABLE: Matturro (Injured), Marcandalli (Injured), Ankeye (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
INTER MILAN TEAM NEWS: KEY CONCERNS
Simone Inzaghi has played a back three throughout his time at Inter but he is having to deal with some key elements that are unavailable for this one with Dutch international Stefan de Vrij out injured.
As well as De Vrij, Poland international and new signing Piotr Zielinski is also unavailable alongside attacking back-ups such as Tajon Buchanan and Marko Arnautovic.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, Bisseck, Acerbi; Darmian, Barella, Asllani, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Lautaro Martinez
UNAVAILABLE: De Vrij (Injured), Zielinski (Injured), Buchanan (Injured), Arnautovic (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
GENOA VS INTER MILAN PREDICTION
Genoa will be one of the teams that many have tipped up to drift down towards the bottom three and the relegation places this season after an impressive mid-table finish last year. They kick off their campaign against an Inter side that do have some holes in their squad, notably in attack, but that remain probably the best team in what does appear to be a competitive Serie A this season. Grinding out an opening day win is to be expected for the defending champions this weekend.
GENOA VS INTER MILAN TIP: INTER MILAN TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS
