Both Genoa and Napoli will be eager to restart the campaign after both clubs had forgettable results immediately prior to the September international break.
Genoa CFC
Genoa opened the season with a 4-1 defeat to Fiorentina, a surprising 1-0 victory over Lazio and a heart-breaking 1-0 defeat to Torino. Nemanja Radonjić scored in the forth minute of stoppage time to hand Genoa their second defeat of the season.
Nevertheless, Genoa will be content with their start to the 2023/24 campaign after earning promotion from Serie B last season. I Griffoni’s performances improved after Alberto Gilardino switched form the 3-5-2 formation used against Fiorentina to a 4-3-2-1, allowing his team to be solid at the back. Genoa have conceded only one goal over their last two matches, against clubs that are both expected to finish in the top half of the table.
After earning promotion, Genoa made some important acquisitions with the intent of fielding a squad that can compete for survival. The Rossoblu’s most impressive signing was Azzurri striker Matteo Retegui from Argentinian club Tigre. Genoa also added centre back Radu Dragucin from Juventus, goalkeeper Josep Martinez from RB Leipzig, striker George Puscas from Reading, Mattia Aramu from Venezia and Junior Messias from Milan.
SSC Napoli
Napoli will be eager to respond after a forgettable second half against Lazio, resulting in the Partenopei’s first defeat of the season. Despite playing against a newly promoted club, it won’t be easy for Napoli to return to the win column.
The Stadio Luigi Ferraris will be packed with Genoani who have been rejuvenated by their side’s promotion under new owners 777 Group. Meanwhile, Napoli had 15 players representing their respective countries during the September international break. With the Group Stage of the Champions League kicking off on Tuesday, all Italian participants were scheduled to play on Saturday. That effectively left most Napoli starters only one full training session to prepare for the Genoa match.
Injuries/Suspensions
Junior Messias hasn’t featured for Genoa since completing his move from Milan. According to Alberto Gilardino, the Brazilian winger is close to reurning to group training. Central defender Alessandro Vogliacco is also unavailable as he continues to recover from a thigh injury. Gialrdino confirmed that Ridgeciano Haps trained well, suggesting the left back could return from a fractured fibula. Ruslan Malinovskyi had a minor problem early in the week, but trained well and is expected to play.
For Napoli, Pierluigi Gollini remains sidelined with a hand injury, while Diego Demme was left out of the squad after completing personalized training on Friday. Matteo Politano suffered a calf injury during the international break, but is listed in the squad and according to Rusi Garcia, is available to start after completing the full group training session on Friday.
Probable Formations
Manager’s Comments
Alberto Gilardino:
“We face the Italian champions, best attach and best defense last season, two candidates for the Ballon d’Or in Kvara and Osimhen. Napoli’s players have great quality and physicality. We have to play the mental game. The boys must have courage. We know we will have to defend well, but when we come forward, we will have to be hungry.”
Rudi Garcia:
“Genoa has an excellent team, yes they are newly promoted, but they’re a great club. The important thing for us, apart from having studied this team which is clearly solid on a defensive level, I remember that they won 1-0 against Lazio, and then I will also be happy to meet a player like Kevin Strootman who will be my opponent tomorrow. They are a team that does not give you a lot, obviously they started badly at home against Fiorentina, playing with their usual game module, but then they changed formation and achieved, not two not two positive results given that they won 1-0 against Lazio but they lost at the last moment in Turin, but they recovered let’s say. It’s a team that we definitely have to play in a very serious way and above all respect this team in their stadium, where it’s always difficult to win. But let’s go there for this reason knowing that the word to watch for us is to think 100% about the championship and this match. There is no other match after this, as if the championship ends in Genoa and there is nothing after that. I don’t want the team to already have other things in mind so our focus is 100% on this match to win.”
Previous Meetings
| May 15, 2022 | SSC Napoli | 3-0 | Genoa CFC |
| August 29, 2021 | Genoa CFC | 1-2 | SSC Napoli |
| February 6, 2021 | Genoa CFC | 2-1 | SSC Napoli |
| September 27, 2020 | SSC Napoli | 6-0 | Genoa CFC |
| July 8, 2020 | Genoa CFC | 1-2 | SSC Napoli |
Match Officials
Head Official: Michael Fabbri
Assistants: Marco Bresmes and Mattia Scarpa
Fourth Official: Ermanno Feliciani
VAR: Valerio Marini and Giacomo Paganessi
