Serie A | Gameweek 31

Apr 4, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris

Genoa vs Udinese

Match preview

Genoa may have left Turin empty-handed last Saturday, but they enjoyed more possession than their hosts Juventus - and had the same number of shots on target.

The 1-0 defeat left Patrick Vieira's side 12th in the standings, with no relegation fears and no hopes of qualifying for Europe.

That result was another away defeat, but the Grifone have won four and drawn one of their five home games in 2025: an average of 2.60 points per game is the fourth-highest in Serie A this year.

Such strength at the Marassi has kept Genoa in touch with the top half of the table, and another home win would take them closer to breaking into Italy's top 10.

The bianconeri are unbeaten in six matches against Udinese - keeping clean sheets in four of the last five - and a repeat of their 2-0 away win in December would narrow the gap between their mid-table rivals, who are only separated by 11th-placed Torino.

Despite putting up a spirited fight at the San Siro, Udinese's last away win over Inter dates back to 2017, having lost to the Nerazzurri for the third time this season - including once in the Coppa Italia.

Last week, the Friulians found themselves two goals down before the half-hour mark, and even Oumar Solet's superb solo strike was not enough to complete the turnaround.

Since signing in January, the French centre-back has made an impact, completing more dribbles (19) than any other Serie A defender, and is one of only four players to have made more than 50 interceptions and won more than 50 tackles this calendar year.

However, his side's previous run of six games without defeat was followed by losses on both sides of the international break - to relegation-threatened Hellas Verona and Scudetto chasers Inter.

Only once have Udinese suffered three successive league defeats under Kosta Runjaic, who inherited a side that narrowly avoided relegation last year, and the German coach will be keen to get back on track.

While the Bianconeri have tested the mettle of several big clubs in recent weeks, nine of their 11 wins have come against teams below them in the standings, and one more would see them move further clear of Genoa.

Recent Performance

Genoa Serie A form:WLDDWL

Udinese Serie A form:WWWDLL

Team News

Not only will Patrick Vieira be able to call on first-choice left-back Aaron Martin, who served a suspension against Juventus, but Portuguese striker Vitinha will also be available on Friday night.

Maxwel Cornet and Junior Messias have resumed partial training but remain serious doubts, while Mattia Bani and Honest Ahanor are still out injured.

Fabio Miretti and Ruslan Malinovskyi should recover from their respective illnesses, the latter having been benched last week, while Jean Onana will make his first Serie A start.

Up front, Andrea Pinamonti has failed to register a goal or an assist in his last five appearances, but he has scored four times against Udinese, including once in the reverse fixture this season.

The visitors will be without veteran striker Alexis Sanchez, reserve goalkeeper Razvan Sava and long-term absentee Isaak Toure, while French striker Florian Thauvin is still nursing a foot problem.

Jordan Zemura suffered a calf injury in training last week and could be sidelined until the end of April, meaning Hassane Kamara will continue to operate on the left flank.

The Bianconeri will once again be led in attack by top scorer Lorenzo Lucca, who has attracted transfer interest from Europe's top clubs.

Possible starting lineup

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Leali; Sabelli, De Winter, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Masini; Zanoli, Malinovskyi, Miretti; Pinamonti

Udinese possible starting lineup:

Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet; Ehizibue, Lovric, Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp, Kamara; Bravo, Lucca