When the 18th-placed team in the table hosts the bottom team at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, it’s not just about three points, but also about a bit of security for the coming weeks. Genoa is in 18th place with eight points, Verona follows in last place with six points, both are deep in the basement of the table, and yet the bookmakers see Genoa as having a slight advantage. The form curves speak for themselves: Genoa has picked up five points from its last five league games, with the 3-3 draw in Cagliari five days ago a minor success, but overshadowed by Norton-Cuffy’s red card in stoppage time and his subsequent suspension. Verona comes into the game with an even weaker record, with just one win and two draws in its last five games, most recently a 1-2 home defeat to Parma. The recent head-to-head record is also rather cautious, with the match in April ending 0-0 and each team winning twice and drawing once in the last five encounters, with four of those games seeing under 2.5 goals scored, underlining the defensive style of play of both clubs. Zanetti’s team is also hampered by the absence of key midfielders Suslov and Serdar.
- Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
- Date and time: 11/29/2025, 3:00 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 13)
The betting market sees Genoa as the favorites with odds of around 2.10. Their form and home advantage support this assessment, while Verona have not won in five games, have problems away from home and also have to do without Serdar and Suslov in midfield. In the last five games of both teams, at least three goals were scored in around 80% of the games. Genoa conceded goals in all five games, Verona in four out of five, which tends to favor goal markets such as Over 2.5 goals or the option Both teams to score: Yes. Another striking factor is their vulnerability after the break, with Genoa struggling defensively in every second half recently and Verona losing their last three second halves, making bets on late goals, such as Over 1.5 goals – 2nd half or a goal after the 60th minute, an interesting option. Specific approaches would be Genoa to win as a moderate risk with odds of around 2.1, the hedged option 1X, plus goal recommendations such as Over 2.5 goals or Both teams to score: Yes, although special markets such as Over 1.5 goals – 2nd half are naturally riskier and tend to offer higher odds.
Genoa form & record check
Genoa are in 18th place with eight points and are in the midst of a relegation battle, just two points behind Lecce, but at the same time their form looks extremely fragile. There is a clear need for improvement defensively. In their last five games, Genoa have conceded at least one goal in each game, often after the break, as shown by the 3-3 draw in Cagliari, where they led 2-1 at halftime and conceded the equalizer in the closing stages. The red card against Norton-Cuffy further exacerbates the situation. Offensively, however, there are positive signs. Vitinha and Colombo are working well together, Østigård scored recently in Cagliari, but with Cornet and Messias out with muscle problems, two important offensive players are missing, which limits the team’s effectiveness. In their current form, they have only won one of their last five league games, a 2-1 win at Sassuolo, with defeats against Cremonese (0-2) and Torino (1-2) and two spectacular draws, 3-3 in Cagliari and 2-2 against Fiorentina. Coach De Rossi must stabilize the defense after the break, make tactical adjustments and find better personnel coordination, while at the same time utilizing the offensive connections that are working to strengthen the team mentally in the final stages. Overall, Genoa shows a lot of commitment and offensive approaches, but the vulnerability in defense and the absences in the squad are central reasons for the precarious situation and require short-term, targeted corrections.
Genoa are expected to line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Cornet and Messias still missing in attack due to muscle problems, which limits the options on the wings. Vitinha and Colombo are likely to start up front, while Malinovskyi will take charge of playmaking in the number 10 position behind the strikers. In defense, a back three of Marcandalli, Østigård, and Vásquez is expected in front of goalkeeper Leali, with Norton-Cuffy and Martín normally responsible for width on the flanks, although Norton-Cuffy’s suspension from the last game must be taken into account. The central midfield is expected to be stabilized by Frendrup and Thorsby, but overall, this remains a prediction, with the final lineup to be announced shortly before kickoff, as usual.
Verona Form & Record Check
Verona is in a serious crisis, with only six points, the team is at the bottom of the table and has been waiting for a win for five league games, only managing draws against Lecce and Cagliari; defensively, the team seems disorganized and offensively too harmless, especially in decisive phases. A clear pattern emerges after the break: in four of their last five games, Verona conceded goals in the second half and hardly created any chances themselves, leading to late defeats against Inter, Como, and Parma, among others, and suggesting deficiencies in fitness, tactical discipline, or mental freshness. The recent home game against Parma was a prime example of this: they fell behind early, then Giovane equalized in the 65th minute, but shortly afterwards Pellegrino made it 1-2. On top of that, they were uninspired in attack in the closing stages and received five yellow cards as a sign of growing frustration. In terms of personnel, the absences exacerbate the situation, with Suslov, Serdar, and possibly Kastanos missing as key creative and ball distributors in midfield. Suslov’s long-term absence in particular robs the team of important momentum, while substitutes such as Bernede and Gagliardini have not yet made the desired impact. Coach Paolo Zanetti will therefore have to tend towards more compactness in the short term, for example with a tighter 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 formation, a clear defensive distribution of roles, earlier substitutions when players’ energy levels drop, and targeted training for set pieces, transition moments, and mental stability in order to reduce the number of cautions. A more defensively oriented double six, such as Bernede and Gagliardini in front of the defense, a creative player at number ten with sufficient cover, and fast wingers for the last 30 minutes to put more pressure on tired defenses with clear vertical runs are also conceivable. Without such adjustments and the return of injured creative players, Verona risks becoming further entrenched at the bottom of the table, which is why the last 30 minutes of each game in particular are likely to become a focus of Zanetti’s work.
Coach Paolo Zanetti is likely to stick with a 3-5-2 system, with Bella-Kotchap, Nelsson, and Frese are expected to start in the back three, with Belghali and Bradaric providing width on the flanks. Akpa Akpro, Bernede, and Gagliardini are expected to start in central midfield, with Giovane and Orban expected to form the strike partnership. However, Verona has several absences to contend with. Suslov is out long term with a cruciate ligament rupture, while Serdar is unavailable with knee problems, as are Oyegoke and Yellu. In addition, both Belghali and Akpa Akpro are carrying suspensions into the game and would be suspended for the next game if they received a yellow card. Overall, the starting lineup seems relatively clear, but the large number of injuries and the risk of important players receiving yellow cards significantly limit Zanetti’s personnel options.
Genoa – Verona Head-to-head comparison & statistics
