Serie A | Gameweek 27

Mar 2, 2025 at 2pm UK

Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris

Genoa vs Empoli

Match preview

Despite losing 1-0 to Serie A leaders Inter Milan last week, thanks to a late Lautaro Martinez goal at the San Siro, Genoa have made a fine start to life under Patrick Vieira.

Despite the defeat to his former club, the French coach's side have won their last three games at the Marassi without conceding a goal - a clear sign of the defensive discipline that has seen them keep clean sheets in half of their last 14 league games.

The last time Genoa won four consecutive top-flight games at home was between February and April 2016, when Gian Piero Gasperini was in charge, and they will be looking to extend that run this weekend.

Vieira's men sit 12th in the table, with Torino and Udinese vying for a top-10 finish, so a win against one of Serie A's bottom three will be expected.

The Grifone are unbeaten in their last 10 matches against Empoli - a run that goes back almost a decade - and history will be on their side.

Indeed, Empoli's only Serie A away win against their Ligurian hosts came in the first of seven attempts, back in April 2008.

The latest clash between the two clubs comes after they upset the odds on Wednesday night by ousting fallen giants Juventus from the Coppa Italia on penalties.

Roberto D'Aversa's side stunned the home crowd in Turin, taking the lead through a fine strike from Youssef Maleh and, after conceding an equaliser midway through the second half, triumphing in a tense penalty shootout.

The Tuscan club's first-ever Coppa Italia semi-final berth means they will play Bologna over two legs in April, with the winners taking on one of the two Milan giants in Rome.

For now, Empoli must concentrate on halting a dramatic slump in Serie A that has seen them slip into the bottom three. After last week's 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Atalanta BC, the Azzurri have lost their last four league games by a combined score of 14-1.

Six defeats in seven have threatened their survival in the top flight, leaving them two points adrift of safety, and since mid-December they have taken the fewest points of any of Europe's top five leagues.

Recent Performance

Genoa Serie A form:LWLDWL

Empoli Serie A form:LDLLLL

Empoli form (all competitions):DLLLLW

Team News

Patrick Vieira is still without Honest Ahanor (knee), Morten Thorsby (calf) and Vitinha (muscle) through injury, but Genoa captain Milan Badelj returned to full training on Tuesday. Badelj is expected to start in midfield, while Andrea Pinamonti will lead the home side's attack.

Pinamonti has scored 37 league goals in the last four seasons. That tally includes 13 during his loan spell at Empoli in 2021-22 - his best top-flight return to date.

In addition to his home strike in the reverse fixture in December - a 2-1 win for Genoa at the Stadio Castellani - Empoli's Sebastiano Esposito has scored seven Serie A away goals this season, and one more would equal a club record.

The visitors continue to be hampered by an injury list that includes five long-term absentees. Mattia Viti is also a doubt, while Tino Anjorin and Jacopo Fazzini have only just returned to training.

Roberto D'Aversa noted the impact of fit-again defender Ardian Ismajli against Juventus, and the Albanian centre-back will lead Empoli's three-man defence.

Luca Marianucci could also be in contention after serving a two-match ban in the league and scoring the winning penalty on Wednesday. Marco Silvestri and Devis Vasquez will again battle it out between the sticks.

Possible starting lineup

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Leali; De Winter, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Badelj, Frendrup; Cornet, Messias, Miretti; Pinamonti

Empoli possible starting lineup:

Vasquez; Goglichidze, Ismajli, Marianucci; Gyasi, Henderson, Grassi, Maleh, Pezzella; Esposito, Colombo