Prediction: Genoa vs Juventus

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: BetUS

Genoa will strive to continue their unbeaten streak at Stadio Luigi Ferraris when they host Juventus in the opening match of Serie A’s 16th round on Friday.

Under Alberto Gilardino’s management, Genoa have not faced defeat at the Marassi since early October. This impressive home streak could potentially continue against Juventus, who are determined to climb to the top of the league standings, currently occupied by Inter Milan.

Genoa

Genoa started the season with mixed form but consistently displayed resilience against some of Serie A’s top teams. They notably secured a 2-2 draw against Napoli, triumphed 4-1 against Jose Mourinho’s Roma, and experienced an unfortunate loss against AC Milan on October 7.

Following that defeat to Stefano Pioli’s team, Genoa have shown improvement, keeping two clean sheets and conceding only once in three home games, earning seven points out of a possible nine.

Their impressive home form might continue if they manage to outplay title-contending Juventus, a team they defeated towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign, despite eventual relegation.

However, maintaining a clean sheet against Juventus could be a challenge for Genoa, given their history of not keeping a clean sheet against their opponents in their last seven encounters, likely extending to eight in their upcoming clash.

Nonetheless, securing a positive result against Juventus would be highly beneficial for Genoa as they aim to end the Turin-based club’s three-month unbeaten streak. Gilardino’s team is currently 14th in the Serie A standings, with 15 points from as many matches.

Team News

Kevin Strootman will be absent due to a hamstring issue for Genoa’s upcoming match against Juventus this weekend.

Following his suspension and absence in the previous game against Monza, Ruslan Malinovskyi is expected to make a return to Gilardino’s midfield setup. He could potentially replace Junior Messias in the team.

The primary attacking threat for Rossoblu remains Albert Gudmundsson. If he scores against the Bianconeri, it will mark his sixth goal of the 2023/24 season in the league.

Juventus

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri seems to be shifting his perspective regarding the Scudetto aspirations of the Bianconeri, contrary to his previous downplaying of his team’s chances when speaking to the media.

Allegri’s demeanor changed following Juventus’ 1-0 victory against defending league champions Napoli in Turin last weekend which propelled the second-placed side to open a 12-point gap over the defending champions in the standings.

Allegri is obviously eager for his team to secure a win at the Marassi, aiming to apply pressure on league leaders Inter. Securing maximum points would place Juventus one point ahead of Simone Inzaghi’s Inter before the latter faces Lazio at the Olimpico.

Juventus have been notably successful in securing one-goal victories in seven out of their recent eight Serie A wins. Allegri’s team may aim to repeat this trend to claim the top spot in the league standings.

While this trend may not be sustainable in the long run, the team has benefited from Federico Gatti’s threat from set-pieces, contributing significantly to the 2-1 victory against Monza and last weekend’s win over Napoli. The center-back will be hopeful of making a decisive impact in the upcoming fixture on Friday as well.

Team News

Juventus’ midfield ranks have suffered a significant blow, with Paul Pogba (doping) and Nicolo Fagioli (gambling) suspended for a long time. Wing-back Mattia De Sciglio is yet to recover from an ACL tear.

However, Allegri has confirmed that striker Dusan Vlahovic was taken off in the Napoli game because of no more than cramps, and the Serbia international is expected to start. Winger Timothy Weah has returned to training following a thigh problem.

Conclusion

Despite their player problems, Juventus remain the favourites to win and end Genoa’s impressive home streak on Friday. It’s likely to be a minimal victory again, but sufficient to set them up at the top of the Serie A table.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 5/6

Bookmaker: BetUS