As the Serie A season progresses, Genoa and Parma find themselves locked in a tight battle for survival, separated by just one point in the standings. This Sunday, they will face off at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in a match that both teams desperately need to win to kickstart their 2025 campaigns.
Genoa, under the management of Patrick Vieira, have shown signs of improvement recently. Since his appointment, the team has lost only one of their last nine matches, demonstrating a newfound resilience and defensive solidity. Vieira’s tactics have transformed the Grifone into a more organized side, with five clean sheets recorded during this stretch. However, they are still seeking their first home victory of the season after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Lecce last time out, where they hit the crossbar twice and missed several opportunities.
On the other hand, Parma have had a challenging season since their promotion from Serie B. They managed to secure a goalless draw against Torino in their last outing, which marked just their second clean sheet of the season. Despite this, they are still struggling to find consistency on the road, having collected only eight points from 27 available in away fixtures. Their recent form includes a vital win against Monza, but they will need to build on that momentum to escape the relegation zone.
Both teams will be looking to impose their style of play on the match. Genoa’s recent defensive solidity will be tested against Parma’s attacking flair. The hosts will aim to control possession while looking for opportunities to exploit any defensive lapses from Parma. Meanwhile, Parma will look to capitalize on counter-attacks and set pieces as they seek to break down Genoa’s defence.
Team News
Genoa will be without several key players due to injury. Caleb Ekuban, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Honest Ahanor, and Ruslan Malinovskyi are all sidelined, while Vitinha is also out with a thigh strain. However, there is some positive news as Uruguayan defender Alan Matturro has returned from injury and is available for selection. Andrea Pinamonti will lead the attack and has been a crucial player against Parma in previous encounters.
Parma also face their share of injury concerns with Adrian Bernabe, Alessandro Circati, Gabriel Charpentier, Mateusz Kowalski, and Yordan Osorio all unavailable for selection. However, Dennis Man may be fit enough to start after missing last week’s match due to a back injury. His presence could be vital for Parma as they seek to bolster their attacking options alongside Valentin Mihaila and Pontus Almqvist.
Expected Starting XIs
Genoa: Leali; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Badelj, Thorsby; Zanoli, Pinamonti, Miretti
Parma: Suzuki; Del Prato, Valenti, Balogh, Valeri; Keita, Sohm; Man, Hernani, Mihaila; Bonny
Match Prediction
Given the stakes of this match and both teams’ current forms, it promises to be an intense encounter. Genoa’s improved defensive record gives them an edge at home; however, both sides have struggled for goals this season. A narrow victory seems likely for Genoa as they aim to secure their first home win of the campaign.
Prediction: Genoa 1-0 Parma
