Genoa vs Roma Preview and Prediction Serie Tim A 2017

Country: Italy Serie A
Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
START TIME: 2017-01-08 14:00:00

Marassi tends to host some pretty spectacular encounters between Genoa and Roma, so this should be no different.

This is rarely a boring game, as last year the Giallorossi staged a comeback thanks to a late Francesco Totti free-kick. Back in 2011, it was the Ligurians who somehow earned a 4-3 win after going 3-0 down.

The first fixture after the break probably won’t disappoint. Roma earned a staggering 83 points in the 2016 calendar year, and will be looking to stay in the Scudetto race.

They have Genoa to thank that Juventus’ lead isn’t seven points (with a game in hand), the Old Lady being flattened at Marassi by a very Italian Gegenpress. Ivan Juric’s side tends to start strong off the blocks against big teams, wiping Milan out, beating Fiorentina and giving Napoli and Inter good games.

If anything, Genoa tend to thrive against opponents who try to build up play, with their high-tempo pressing ideal to disrupt passers and launch quick counters.

Then again, Rudi Garcia’s slow Roma is no more, replaced by a Luciano Spalletti who has evolved, and got his side winning ugly. In fact, the recent triumph over Lazio owed to their pressure at the edge of the edge of the Aquile’s box.

The Giallorossi have a strong goalkeeper and an established central defensive pairing, Federico Fazio their umpteenth garbage-pile defender turned reliable stopper. The Grifone, for their part, have replaced star player Leonardo Pavoletti with Giovanni Simeone, in what could well be a successful – if not immediate – transition. Simeone poses less of a threat in the air, but darts around with intent, his mazy dribbling and showboating a breath of fresh air, though he’s got to work on his finishing.

Another sale, Tomas Rincon, may not be missed either. He made 1.9 tackles per game this season, intercepting 1.2 balls in that time. Strangely, those are basically the same stats flashed by replacement Isaac Cofie back when he was a regular starter at Chievo.

The biggest highlight, however, should be on the wings, where the likes of Diego Laxalt, Darko Lazovic, Lucas Ocampos and Stephan El Shaarawy will do battle. This is despite Mohamed Salah’s departure for Gabon, one that leaves Roma relying heavily on Radja Nainggolan and a resurrected El Shaarawy. Judging by the Lupi’s four wins in five before Christmas, Salah’s absence may not be enough to stop them.

It’s Genoa who have more to worry about, their strong starts often undermined by fatigue and disjointed second-half performances, such as their recent 4-3 collapse to Palermo at home.

It’s frankly a surprise that they’ve got the tenth-best defence in the league. Chances are, they’ll be adding to their four conceded penalties (joint-third in Serie A) sooner rather than later. Genoa are the joint-most cards (59, with Cagliari) in Serie A, and the most sendings off (7).

Keep an eye on: Bruno Peres (Roma) – A player with the talent to be the new Maicon, the Brazilian has been a bit disappointing since joining from Torino, especially on the defensive side. He’ll need to step up if he is to contain the red-hot Diego Laxalt, as well as Lucas Ocampos. With no Mo Salah, he’ll be relied upon more in attack. In fact, were Luciano Spalletti to opt for three at the back, he could end up playing as a wingback, and will be expected to be less wasteful going forward than he was last year.

Form Guide: Genoa (D L W L L), Roma (W W W L W)

Last season: Genoa 2-3 Roma

Stat fact: Roma have won eight of their last nine meetings with Genoa, home and away.

Top Tip: Roma win. The Giallorossi have discovered a mean streak, and Genoa’s defensive problems have come to the fore of late. The cards won’t help, either.

Genoa (probable): Perin; Izzo, Burdisso, Munoz; Lazovic, Rigoni, Cofie, Laxalt, Ninkovic, Simeone, Ocampos
Suspended: None
Roma (probable): Szczesny; Peres, Manolas, Fazio, Rudiger; Strootman, De Rossi; Perotti, Nainggolan, El Shaarawy; Dzeko

Prediction: OVER 2.5