As the Serie A season kicks off, Genoa face a daunting challenge as they host reigning champions Inter Milan at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. The match promises to be a thrilling opener for both teams, with Inter looking to defend their title and Genoa aiming to establish themselves in the top half of the table.
Recent Form and Head-to-Head
Inter Milan enter the match with a strong historical advantage, having not lost to Genoa in their last ten encounters, winning eight and drawing two. The Nerazzurri finished the previous season with an impressive record, securing their 20th Scudetto and dominating the league with a formidable attack and solid defence. Lautaro Martinez, who was instrumental last season with 27 goals, will be a key player to watch as he continues his fine form.
On the other hand, Genoa had a respectable campaign last season, finishing 11th in their return to Serie A. However, they face the challenge of replacing key players, including Mateo Retegui, who has moved to Atalanta. Despite this setback, Genoa managed to secure a narrow victory in their Coppa Italia opener against Reggiana, which should provide them with some confidence heading into this match.
Team News
Genoa will likely field a 3-5-2 formation, with Pierluigi Gollini in goal and a back three comprising Koni De Winter, Mattia Bani, and Johan Vasquez. The midfield will see Milan Badelj, Morten Frendrup, and Morten Thorsby working to control the game, while Junior Messias and Vitinha are expected to lead the attack.
Inter Milan, managed by Simone Inzaghi, will be without several key players due to injury, including Piotr Zielinski and Stefan de Vrij. However, the return of Mehdi Taremi from injury could bolster their attacking options. Inter is expected to line up in a similar 3-5-2 formation, aiming to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities.
Tactical Battle
Genoa will need to be defensively organized to withstand Inter’s attacking prowess. They will look to exploit any gaps left by Inter’s defence on the counter-attack. Meanwhile, Inter will aim to control the midfield and utilize their wing-backs to stretch Genoa’s defence, creating space for their forwards.
Prediction
Given Inter’s dominant form and historical advantage over Genoa, they are favoured to secure a victory in this match. While Genoa will put up a fight, the defending champions are expected to start their title defence with a solid performance, potentially winning 2-0 or 3-1.
