Serie A | Gameweek 17

Dec 21, 2024 at 5pm UK

Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris

Genoa vs Napoli

Match preview

Back-to-back league and cup defeats may have put a damper on Napoli's excellent start to the season, but Antonio Conte's men were soon back to winning ways after suffering two defeats at the hands of Lazio in less than a week's time.

Trailing at half-time at Udinese last weekend, Romelu Lukaku's strike just after the break levelled the scores before an own goal and Frank Anguissa's late strike secured a 3-1 victory.

The Azzurri sit second in the Serie A standings, just behind leaders Atalanta BC, with 35 points from 17 games - an impressive tally that Conte is no stranger to.

Having done the same with Juventus and Inter Milan, he is the only coach ever to have reached the same mark at this stage with three different clubs - two of which he won the Scudetto.

With no continental football or Coppa Italia to consider, Napoli's sole focus over the next few months will be on the title, and their defensive record suggests they could well be crowned champions.

Not only have they conceded just twice in their last seven Serie A away games, but they have also kept five clean sheets on the road since the start of September - the best record in Europe's top five leagues.

Precedent will certainly be on the visitors' side at the Marassi, as Genoa have won just two of their last 27 top-flight meetings with Napoli over the past 14 years.

However, the Grifone will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to seven league games when they welcome their Campania counterparts to Liguria on Saturday, having been revitalised by a change of manager during the November international break.

New boss Patrick Vieira is unbeaten in his first four games in charge, most recently overseeing a hard-fought goalless draw with AC Milan at the San Siro - one of several stops during his illustrious playing career.

Genoa have now kept clean sheets in each of their last three games, and that solidity has helped them climb to 13th in the standings - albeit just two points above the relegation zone.

Despite the familiar fight for survival, a new era has begun at the club. While Vieira looks after the first-team squad, Romanian businessman Dan Sucu has just bought a majority stake in the club, stepping in after the previous owners of Rapid Bucharest in his homeland went bankrupt.

Recent Performance

Genoa Serie A form:WDDWDD

Napoli Serie A form:LDWWLW

Napoli form (all competitions):DWWLLW

Team News

Napoli coach Antonio Conte will be without two key players this weekend - and possibly until the start of next month - after key creator Khvicha Kvaratskhelia joined defensive rock Alessandro Buongiorno in the dressing room.

Either Rafa Marin or Juan Jesus should replace him, with David Neres deputising for Kvaratskhelia on the left wing. Pasquale Mazzocchi and Michael Folorunsho are doubts, but Frank Anguissa is expected to recover from illness and continue his key role in midfield.

Up front, Romelu Lukaku has scored seven goals in six Serie A games against Genoa, making them his favourite opponents in Italian football.

Meanwhile, the hosts will be all too familiar with the injuries that have depleted their squad: Koni De Winter, Jeff Ekhator, Caleb Ekuban, Junior Messias and Ruslan Malinovskyi remain sidelined.

Veteran striker Mario Balotelli has been used sparingly since his return to Italy - and is also down with a fever - so the Grifone attack will be led by five-goal top scorer Andrea Pinamonti.

Possible starting lineup

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Leali; Sabelli, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Badelj, Thorsby; Zanoli, Miretti; Pinamonti

Napoli possible starting lineup:

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka; Politano, McTominay, Neres; Lukaku