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Genoa, despite off-field issues with their ownership group 777 Partners, have enjoyed a positive start to the 2024/25 season as they now welcome a Juventus side that could do with ending a recent lull in their performances.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 28th September, 2024 - UK – 5:00pm / US ET – 12:00pm / US PT – 9:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Select matches will be televised on CBS Sports so it is worth checking their schedule
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – OneFootball / US – Paramount+
GENOA PREVIEW: GILARDINO’S GENIUS IN GENOA
Under the management of 2006 FIFA World Cup winning striker Alberto Gilardino, Genoa are once again punching above their weight, especially following the departures of key attacking duo Albert Gudmundsson and Mateo Retegui over the summer transfer window.
On the opening day of the campaign, Genoa managed to salvage a point against defending champions Internazionale with a last gasp equaliser from Junior Messias following his penalty being saved. Since then, Genoa have been steady and looking like a mid-table side despite their issues but they do come into this one on the back of a penalty shootout defeat to Sampdoria in the Derby della Lanterna in the Coppa Italia in midweek.
JUVENTUS PREVIEW: THE THIAGO MOTTA EXPERIENCE
In the summer, after helping Bologna qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 60 years, one of the most sought after managers in European football, Thiago Motta, became the new head coach of Juventus to lead their new era with a younger, fresher and more dynamic squad.
The Bianconeri come into this one on the back of a positive start to the campaign in which they have yet to concede a single goal but there will be a bit of frustration as, in Serie A, they have now shared three successive goalless draws. Firstly against Roma before 0-0 draws with both Empoli and Napoli.
GENOA TEAM NEWS: THE MALINOVSKIY INJURY
In their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Venezia last weekend, Ukrainian international Ruslan Malinovskiy suffered a serious and distressing ankle injury so is out for a while.
As well as the former Atalanta and Marseille man, Genoa remain without the likes of Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Caleb Ekuban with Junior Messias also a doubt.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Gollini; De Winter, Bani, Johan Vasquez; Sabelli, Bohinen, Badelj, Frendrup, Caricol; Vitinha, Pinamonti
UNAVAILABLE: Norton-Cuffy (Injured), Malinovskiy (Injured), Ekuban (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Junior Messias (Injured)
JUVENTUS TEAM NEWS: CONCEICAO STILL OUT
Juventus have been left frustrated by late summer signing Francisco Conceicao still being unavailable due to a muscle injury and he is missing this weekend, too.
As well as the former Porto man, Juve will also contend with the absence of youngster Vasilje Adzic with Arkadiusz Milik also a doubt for the visitors.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Savona, Kalulu, Bremer, Cambiaso; McKennie, Locatelli; Gonzalez, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic
UNAVAILABLE: Adzic (Injured), Conceicao (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Milik (Injured)
GENOA VS JUVENTUS PREDICTION
Even with just one win all season, Genoa have overperformed pre-season expectations so far. A key concern for them was and now does remain a lack of attacking options and effectiveness and that is expected to remain. They face a Juventus side that are yet to concede a single goal so it does appear to be a case as to whether Juve can find any fluency in the final third as to whether they can get three points – and that does seem likely.
GENOA VS JUVENTUS TIP: JUVENTUS TO WIN TO NIL