Genoa will be up against Juventus in the Serie A encounter at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa on the 7th of May. Juventus will be struggling for their third Serie A victory in a row when they travel to relegation-threatened Genoa for the early Friday kick off.
Genoa have been a constant feature in the top flight of Italian football since 2007. However, that impressive streak now faces a serious their existence in the Serie A is under serious doubt. Having accrued just 25 points from their 35 matches so far, Genoa are down in the 19th position on the Serie A table.
The Genoa-based side recorded a very impressive 1-0 win over Cagliari on April 24. However, Alexander Blessin’s men failed to sustain the momentum and couldn’t gather back-to-back victories. They lost their most recent match against Sampdoria, 1-0, which has left them trailing Cagliari in 17th place by three points, with both sides having played the same number of matches.
As a result, Genoa are quite desperate right now. In theory, two victories from their final three matches might just prove to be enough for them to remain afloat in the top division. However, matches against formidable opponents in Juventus and Napoli could prove to be complicated affairs while Genoa will end the season with an encounter against Bologna at home.
Genoa have managed to win just three matches all season – by far the worst record in Serie A 2021/22. They have lost and drawn 16 games each and are ahead of bottom-placed Venezia by just three points. Genoa have also lost four out of their last five league matches. It is especially disappointing given that they had been on a run of eight unbeaten matches which had provided them with a glimmer of hope of avoiding relegation. However, that train seems to have left the station already.
The Red and Blues have suffered defeats in each of their last six league encounters with Juventus. The reverse fixture was held earlier this season at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Genoa lost 0-2 on that occasion and will be the underdogs heading into this fixture once again.
As far as Juventus are concerned, they are in flying form at the moment. They have won each of their last three matches across all competitions and have also booked a spot in the final of the prestigious Coppa Italia competition. They defeated Fiorentina in the semis and then also recorded consecutive league victories over Sassuolo and Venezia. This run of form confirms Champions League football for the next season as Juventus are sure to finish in the top four of the Serie A.
Purely from a mathematical perspective, the Old Lady of Turin are still in the race for the Serie A title. However, they continue to sit eight points behind current league leaders AC Milan and with three matches left, it seems to be too big a gap to overturn. It is also difficult to imagine them climbing any higher in the table as AC Milan’s title challengers and neighbours, Inter, are also six points ahead of them in second place, having played the same number of fixtures.
With that being said, Juventus will most likely turn their attention towards Napoli, who are in third place. The Neapolitan club are just one point ahead of them in the table and with games against Genoa, Lazio and Fiorentina to end the season, the Bianconeri will be hoping for maximum commitment.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men still have a realistic chance of winning silverware this season. They will be up against defending Italian champions Inter Milan in the final of the Coppa Italia on May 11. It has been a strange, disappointing and difficult campaign for Juventus, who have been extremely familiar with repeated success over the last decade. Therefore, winning the Coppa Italia will mark a positive end to the season.
Juventus have the fifth-best away record among the teams in Serie A this season. They are also facing a Genoa side who have the third-worst record at home in the Italian top flight. Genoa have managed just 14 points from their 17 matches at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris and Juventus will be desperate to maintain and add on to their impressive winning streak against them.
GEN vs JUV, Serie A 2021/22
Date: 7th May, 2022
Time: 12:30 AM IST
Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
FORM GUIDE:
Genoa Serie A form:
- W-L-L-L-W-L
Genoa form (all competitions):
- W-L-L-L-W-L
Juventus Serie A form:
- W-L-W-D-W-W
Juventus form (all competitions):
- L-W-D-W-W-W
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Genoa wins: 4
Draws: 6
Juventus wins: 23
GEN vs JUV TEAM NEWS:
Genoa Team News: Genoa are expected to miss several key players for this key fixture. The likes of Zinho Vanheusden, Nicolo Rovella, Andrea Cambiaso, Lennart Czyborra, Nikola Maksimovic and Roberto Piccoli are all out through injury and will not be able to take part at any stage on Friday.
Stefano Sturaro suffered an injury that forced him off in the last match against Sampdoria. However, he is expected to overcome the issue and return in time to the starting XI, which could be largely unchanged from the previous clash.
Pablo Galdames is expected to take up the number 10 position in a 4-2-3-1 formation, while leading goalscorer Mattia Destro will start as the focal point in attack for the relegation-threatened outfit.
Juventus Team News: Juventus, meanwhile, are doubtful about the participation of Mattia de Sciglio and Juan Cuadrado. It will be interesting to see whether Allegri decides to take a gamble and start with them right from the off.
Federico Chiesa, Manuel Locatelli, Kaio Jorge and Weston McKennie are all out with long-term injuries and are confirmed to be missing this clash.
Much like Genoa, Juventus might start with the majority of the XI that started the previous weekend. However, there could be a change in midfield with Brazilian Arthur partnering Adrien Rabiot and Denis Zakaria in the engine room. Meanwhile, veteran Giorgio Chiellini should reclaim his position at the back.
Although Alex Sandro is in contention to start at left back, Luca Pellegrini might be ahead of him in the pecking order. Star signing Dusan Vlahovic is set to be joined in a two-man striker system by Alvaro Morata up top.
Genoa possible starting lineup:
Sirigu; Frendrup, Bani, Ostigard, Vasquez; Sturaro, Badelj; Ekuban, Galdames, Amiri; Destro
Juventus possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Chiellini, Bonucci, De Ligt; Bernardeschi, Zakaria, Arthur, Rabiot, Pellegrini; Morata, Vlahovic
Predictions:
Juventus are the overwhelming favourites to win this clash. Genoa are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Serie A table and have recorded just three wins all season. Compare that to Juventus, who are in majestic form and are unbeaten in their last four Serie A matches. The Old Lady of Turin also have a fantastic record against Genoa and have won each of their last six matches against the relegation-threatened team.
GEN vs JUV Fantasy XI No. 1
GEN vs JUV Fantasy XI No. 2
