Prediction: Genoa vs Verona

Verdict: Albert Gudmundsson to score anytime

Best Odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: Luckster

Hoping to make an immediate return to winning ways on Friday night, Genoa will welcome Verona to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Genoa

Starting with the hosts, missing out on what they had billed as a potential opportunity last weekend as they eventually slumped to a 2-1 loss at the hands of Cagliari, Genoa are seeking an immediate response here. Currently holding a three-point buffer over the drop zone heading into Friday’s showdown, Alberto Gilardino’s side should be smelling a golden chance here. Simply looking to avoid getting dragged into a relegation scrap after making their Serie A return this season, the Griffins will be excited by the prospect of making a return to home soil. Last seen at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris extending on their Coppa Italia victory thanks to a 2-1 win against second-tier outfit Reggiana, Genoa have won three of their previous four domestic showdowns in front of their own supporters. Likewise, including an action-packed 2-2 stalemate against defending champions Napoli back on September 16th, Gilardino’s men have lost just one of their last five appearances in Liguria.

Team News

Not making a single appearance since the start of October, Genoa will once again be without one-time AC Milan star Junior Messias this weekend. However, after serving a one-match suspension last weekend, 29-year-old Mattia Bani could be handed a full return here.

Enjoying what has been a stellar free-scoring run this season and now notching six goals in his previous seven appearances across all competitions, the red-hot Albert Gudmundsson will once again have a leading role to play on Friday night.

Verona

As for the visitors, while Verona might have eventually clung to their Serie A status last season as they limped their way over the finish line, Marco Baroni’s side are bracing themselves for yet another relegation scrap. Showing a string of issues since opening up the 2023/24 campaign and already battling it out in the bottom-three, the Mastiffs have collected just eight points from their first 11 top-flight appearances. Last seen putting in another nightmare performance as they suffered a 3-1 drumming at home against Monza, the former Leece boss has now seen his downbeat squad lose each of their last five straight domestic contests by an aggregate score of 11-3. Crashing out of the Coppa Italia on October 31st thanks to a routine 2-0 defeat away at Bologna, Baroni’s side are without a single domestic victory to their name since the end of August.

Team News

Not to make a single appearance this season and still dealing with a long-term muscle injury, Verona will once again be without the services of former Manchester City starlet Jayden Braaf on Friday night. Likewise, Baroni’s men are expected to travel to Gerona without 22-year-old Juan David Cabal this weekend.

However, making a return last weekend, Sweden international Isak Hien should make a first Series A start since back on September 27th. The 24-year-old should replace Pawel Dawidowicz at the heart of Verona’s defence here.

Key Factors to Consider

• Genoa have remarkably lost just one of their last 16 meetings against Verona at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris – a run that stems all the way back to December 1989.
  Friday’s hosts
• Gilardino’s men have won three of their previous four domestic home fixtures across all competitions.
• Verona have lost each of their last five meetings against Serie A opposition by an aggregate score of 11-3.
• Likewise, Friday’s guests have also picked up just a single point from any of their previous seven Serie A showdowns.
• Albert Gudmundsson has scored six goals in his previous seven domestic appearances across all formats.

Conclusion

Smelling a golden chance to widen their buffer over the drop zone on Friday night, Genoa will certainly be excited to make a return to home soil here. Winning three of their previous four showdowns at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, the red-hot Gudmundsson will also be looking to extend on his stellar free-scoring romp. Notching six goals in his last seven domestic contests across all formats, the Iceland international will be hoping to cash in on a Verona squad who find themselves at the heart of a public nightmare.

Verdict: Albert Gudmundsson to score anytime

Best Odds: 5/2

Bookmaker: Luckster