Key Facts
- Under De Rossi, Genoa has won its last two competitive matches in a row (including a home win against Roma), showing a clear improvement in form in the relegation battle.
- Udinese is without striker Adam Buksa due to a calf injury; combined with the absences of Bertola, Zemura, and Zanoli, the visitors are missing key options in both defense and attack.
- Genoa is unbeaten in the last five head-to-head matches (four wins, one draw) and has scored in every encounter—a strong H2H pattern favoring the home team.
- All five of Udinese’s most recent first halves have had fewer than 1.5 goals, suggesting a cautious/tactically reserved approach and a low probability of goals in the first half.
- Genoa’s defensive stability, Buksa’s absence, and the head-to-head data all point to an “Under 2.5 goals” match.
- Bookmakers see a home win as the most likely outcome, but not a clearly dominant result; therefore, a narrow Genoa victory or a low-scoring game is the most plausible scenario.
Two consecutive wins have put Genoa, under Daniele De Rossi, in real form: most recently the 2-0 victory in Verona, which was preceded by a home win against Roma. Udinese now travels to the Luigi Ferraris in a weakened state following the 1-0 loss to Juventus and without the injured Adam Buksa. With only three points separating 13th and 11th place in the standings, the pressure is palpable.
- Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
- Date and Time: March 20, 2026, 8:45 PM
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 30)
Bookmakers see Genoa as clear, but not dominant, favorites; a draw is considered a realistic possibility. De Rossi’s team is defensively solid; in Udinese’s last five league matches, the first halves all saw fewer than 1.5 goals, and Adam Buksa’s injury (calf problem) deprives the visitors of an important attacking option.
Genoa Form & Record Check
The 2-1 away win in Verona was more clinical than spectacular: Genoa waited until the game opened up, capitalized on a mistake by Vitinha after the break, and sealed the deal through Leo Østigård following an assist from Aarón Martín.
De Rossi was right to view the second half positively; the first half was of poor quality and required sharper interventions from the bench. In their last five league games, Genoa have won three and lost only once. Clean sheets against Verona, Torino, and Cremonese show that risks are well managed, while the 2-1 home win against Roma exceeded expectations. Marcandalli’s selection for the Team of the Round underscores the defensive stability, even with Jean Onana still out.
Genoa is likely to stick with its usual 3-5-2 formation (prediction). Expected lineup: Justin Bijlow – 16 in goal; back three of Alessandro Marcandalli – 27, Leo Østigård – 5, and Johan Vásquez – 22. Mikael Egill Ellertsson – 77 and Stefano Sabelli – 20 provide width; Morten Frendrup – 32 takes charge of the central midfield, flanked by Ruslan Malinovskyi – 17 and Junior Messias – 10. Vitinha – 9 could start up front alongside Lorenzo Colombo – 29. Jean Onana remains sidelined; Benjamin Siegrist is also unavailable.
Udinese Calcio Form & Record Check
The 1-0 home loss to Juventus showed once again that Udinese stays in the game but rarely creates enough pressure offensively; both of their most recent league losses came after halftime. Buksa’s confirmed calf injury exacerbates this concern. On the positive side: Runjaić’s team earned a 2-2 draw at Atalanta and won 3-0 against Fiorentina, demonstrating their ability to be dangerous when their transitions are working. Overall, however, doubts prevail in their last five matches: three losses and conceding goals in four games. It is notable that all five first halves saw fewer than 1.5 goals, suggesting a cautious approach. Added to this are absences beyond Buksa: Nicolò Bertola, Jordan Zemura, and Alessandro Zanoli are out, meaning Udinese loses flexibility, particularly on the wings and in defense.
Udinese is expected to line up in a 3-1-4-2 formation (prediction). Maduka Okoye – 40 in goal, a back three of Kingsley Ehizibue – 19, Christian Kabasele – 27, and Thomas Kristensen – 31. Jesper Karlström – 8 as a defensive midfielder in front of them. Oier Zarraga – 6, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp – 32, and Arthur Atta – 14 will support the attack; Hassane Kamara – 11 could take over the left wing in the absence of Jordan Zemura. Predicted starting lineup: Nicolò Zaniolo – 10 alongside Keinan Davis – 9, as Adam Buksa is out and Nicolò Bertola and Alessandro Zanoli are also unavailable.
Genoa – Udinese Calcio Head-to-Head & Statistics
The last five meetings paint a clear picture: Genoa is unbeaten during this period (four wins, one draw) and last won 2-1 in Udine in December 2025. Genoa also came out on top in April 2025 and in both league matches in 2024. Genoa scored in all five games and led at halftime in the last three, while Udinese conceded goals in each of those matches. It is also notable that the second halves are often quieter: In four consecutive matches, the second half saw fewer than 1.5 goals, suggesting a controlled game rather than an open spectacle.
