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Genoa
AC MilanGenoa are flying right now. Three consecutive Serie A wins, a manager who looked like he might be shown the door just a few weeks ago, and a crowd at Stadio Ferraris that has started to believe something is happening. AC Milan, meanwhile, are a team of contradictions. They battered Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, looked like genuine title contenders, then turned up in the Europa League and got beaten 2-0 by Ferencvaros. Ruben Amorim is still building something at the San Siro, but the inconsistency is real and it is the kind of thing that can cost you on the road against a side riding a wave of confidence.
This is a fixture that looks far more interesting than it might have done a month ago. Genoa have climbed to 11th, De Rossi has steadied the ship in remarkable fashion, and the Grifone are sniffing their first four consecutive top flight wins in 17 years. Milan arrive having won six of their last eight derbies against Inter and unbeaten in Serie A away from home this season, but they are also knackered, rotated, and coming off a nightmare European night. Something has to give.
This Serie A fixture takes place at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa, a ground with a proper old school atmosphere that has the capacity to get right behind De Rossi’s side when things are going well. With the international break approaching immediately after this weekend, both clubs will be desperate to head into that break on the right note, which adds an extra edge to the occasion.
Milan are carrying a significant injury list and Amorim will be forced into changes after the Europa League rotation on Thursday. Genoa, by contrast, look close to a full complement heading into the weekend.
Amorim faces a selection headache given the Europa League game just days ago. Expect him to restore several of his bigger names. Maignan is straight back in, Pavlovic slots back into defence, and Moreira’s impact off the bench against Ferencvaros should be enough to earn him a starting spot. With Tomori, Gabbia and Saelemaekers all out, Amorim does not have a huge amount of wriggle room in key areas.
De Rossi is likely to name a strong and settled side. Osmajic leads the line as the top scorer, Messias provides creativity and energy on the right after his double contribution at Lecce, and El Shaarawy continues his renaissance in a free role behind the striker. It is a Genoa side that knows exactly what it is doing right now, and that matters.
Milan’s form across all competitions is a strange picture. They are genuinely difficult to beat in Serie A and their attacking numbers under Amorim are outstanding, 21 league goals in the first 10 games is the best return from any new Milan coach since Cesare Maldini back in 1972. The Derby della Madonnina win was a statement result, surging into a two goal lead before seeing it out, and closing to within four points of Inter in the process. That is the good version of Amorim’s Milan.
The bad version turned up in Europe. Three defeats in four Europa League fixtures, a 2-0 loss to Ferencvaros, and genuine concerns about an early exit from the competition. The domestic and European versions of this team look like different outfits entirely. Away from home in Serie A they remain unbeaten with two wins and three draws, so there is substance here, but the fatigue and rotation heading into this one is a factor that cannot be ignored.
Genoa’s transformation under De Rossi since the last international break is one of the stories of the Serie A season. Four wins from five in that period, climbing the table from the danger zone to a comfortable mid table spot, and now on a three game winning streak in the league. The 2-1 victory at Lecce was their best evidence yet, with Messias pulling the strings and Osmajic doing the dirty work up top. The Grifone look organised, dangerous on the counter, and full of belief.
The historical numbers here are almost entirely in Milan’s favour, and quite dramatically so. Genoa have not beaten Milan in a league fixture, home or away, since March 2020. That is a drought of 10 consecutive meetings without a win, which is a remarkable run. Milan’s away record at Stadio Ferraris has been particularly strong, with four straight victories at this ground in the most recent meetings, including a 2-1 win in the final weeks of last season.
That said, Genoa are a different animal right now compared to some of those previous meetings, and even long standing records eventually come to an end. Milan will carry confidence from the head to head history, but De Rossi’s side have the form and the home advantage to make this a genuine contest rather than a foregone conclusion.
This is a game where the narrative points in two directions and the market reflects that tension nicely. Milan have the pedigree in this fixture and the firepower to hurt anyone, but they are tired, depleted, and coming off a demoralising European performance. Genoa have the momentum, the crowd, and a tactical setup that looks capable of troubling a Milan backline that has been leaking goals. The value is in a game that produces action at both ends rather than a clean, comfortable away win.
Both of these sides have been scoring freely and neither has been particularly watertight. Milan have conceded in too many games under Amorim and Genoa have rediscovered their attacking spark. With Osmajic, El Shaarawy and Moreira all likely to be involved, backing over 2.5 goals feels like the sensible call here.
Diego Moreira is the pick. Seven goal involvements in six Serie A starts is a ridiculous return, he is fresh legs coming off the back of being rested in midweek, and his direct running causes problems for any defence. He scored the decisive third in the derby and has the confidence of a man in the form of his life right now.
Genoa are a physical side and Milan are going to be getting into some competitive battles in the middle of the park. With both teams having plenty to play for heading into the international break, this should be a feisty affair. Back over 3.5 cards for the match as a reasonable proposition given the intensity these two sides have been playing with lately.
A 2-2 draw feels right. Genoa have enough going forward to score, Milan have enough quality to respond, and neither side looks fully capable of keeping a clean sheet at the moment. An end to end game that leaves both managers with mixed feelings as they head into the break.
Yes, and comfortably so. Genoa have scored in each of their last five Serie A games and Milan have been shipping goals despite their attacking quality. With both sides pushing for the win, the conditions are ideal for a game where both goalkeepers are tested and both net at least once.
| Market | Selection |
|---|---|
| Both Teams To Score | Yes |
| Over 2.5 Goals | Over |
| First Goalscorer | Diego Moreira |
Both sides have been scoring freely, the conditions point strongly to goals at both ends, and Moreira as first scorer at a solid price adds the extra value to what is already a well supported double.
Genoa are a genuine threat right now and their home form makes this anything but a comfortable away day. Milan have the quality in their squad and a head to head record that will give Amorim confidence, but the Europa League hangover, the injury list, and the momentum Genoa are carrying make a straightforward win look unlikely.
Expect both sides to find the net, expect the game to be competitive throughout, and expect it to feel like a proper Serie A battle rather than a comfortable stroll. The prediction is 2-2, a share of the spoils that probably suits neither side but honestly reflects where both are right now.
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