Como – Genoa
Patrick Vieira has issued a warning about Como ahead of the match, describing the hosts as potential European Cup contenders. This is a surprising assessment for a newly promoted team that finds itself in 9th place in Serie A after two matchdays, while its guests from Genoa are in 15th place. The Lombards are in a better position with three points and a balanced goal difference, while their league colleagues from the coast have only managed to collect one point. The Genoa coach will have to do without Onana and Cornet, but believes his team is ready for the trip to the Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Cesc Fàbregas, on the other hand, is hoping to make amends after the bitter defeat in Bologna. The most recent encounter in April ended 1-0 to Como, which is symptomatic of this pairing, as Genoa have failed to win any of their last four meetings and have always conceded at least one goal. The betting market sees Como as clear favorites with over a 60% chance of winning, reflecting the different ambitions of the two clubs.
- Venue: Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como
- Date and time: 09/15/2025, 8:45 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 3)
Como form & record check
Como has shown mixed results after the first two games of the season. The newly promoted team surprised everyone with a convincing 2-0 home win against Lazio, but was unable to maintain this form. In the 0-1 defeat in Bologna, Fàbregas’ team lacked punch and conceded a deserved defeat through Orsolini’s goal in the 59th minute. Personnel concerns are becoming increasingly pressing. With Dossena (cruciate ligament rupture), Van der Brempt (thigh injury), and the valuable Diao (foot injury) all out, important pieces are missing. The loss of Diao, the most expensive player in the squad with a market value of €30 million, is particularly painful for the offense. The tactical development under Fàbregas is interesting. Como is playing more solidly defensively than expected, but has conceded goals regularly in the last five games. The offense around Morata and Douvikas is not yet running smoothly, although the Greek is quite accurate when he gets a shot off. With three points and in 9th place in the table, Como is level on points with AC Milan above and Bologna below. The starting position remains respectable for a promoted team, even if Patrick Vieira already considers the team to be “ready for Europe.”
According to coach Cesc Fàbregas, Como is likely to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Butez will be in goal, while Vojvoda, Ramón, Kempf, and Álex Valle are expected to form the back four. The personnel situation is problematic due to several absences: Dossena is still out with a cruciate ligament rupture, and Van der Brempt is not yet ready to play with a thigh injury. The loss of the valuable Assane Diao, who has to sit out with a foot injury, could be particularly painful. Perrone and Da Cunha should occupy the double six in midfield. The creative axis behind them could consist of Kühn, Paz, and Jesús Rodríguez, while Douvikas is likely to take over as striker. It will be interesting to see whether Fàbregas opts for Morata as an alternative or puts his trust in the young Greek.
Genoa Form & Record Check
Genoa heads into its away game on Lake Como after a bumpy start to the season. Following a narrow defeat to Juventus and a goalless draw against Lecce in its opening game, Patrick Vieira’s team is in 15th place in the table with just one point. Interestingly, their points tally is level with Pisa above them and Lecce below them, which illustrates how close the table is in the lower mid-table. Recent performances show a team in transition that has yet to find the right rhythm, especially in attack. Against Juventus, the performance was quite appealing, but as Vieira himself admits, the decisive details are missing in the final meters. The Rossoblu need to be more clinical and find the back of the net more often. The personnel situation has eased somewhat. According to Vieira, Ruslan Malinovskyi is “very mature and ready to play from the start,” which could give the midfield more creativity. Otoa is fit again, while Grønbæk’s availability remains questionable due to a nose problem. Onana and Cornet are definitely out. Vieira believes his team is ready for the task in Como. The game plan is clear: “The sooner we reach 40 points, the better.” After the promising cup win against Vicenza Virtus, the task now is to transfer this efficiency to the league.
Patrick Vieira is expected to field his team in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. However, the coach will have to do without Onana and Cornet, who are both out with physical problems. Grønbæk is on the verge of being ruled out due to a nose problem, although Vieira says the news is positive. The starting lineup decision for Malinovskyi, whom the coach has recently praised highly, will be interesting. “He has grown a lot and is ready to play from the start,” Vieira said of the Ukrainian. In attack, Colombo could occupy the striker position, while Carboni and Stanciu are expected to provide creativity.
H2H Como – Genoa Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The last four meetings between Como and Genoa show a fascinating pattern: three draws and only one Como win in April 2025. Genoa have never won against the Lombards, which is quite surprising. The lack of goals in the first halves is particularly striking. All four encounters were goalless at half-time before the games came to life in the second half. Both teams scored regularly, but also conceded goals reliably. Como’s last win in April was a narrow 1-0 home victory, breaking a streak of three consecutive draws. Previously, there had been two 2-2 and 1-1 draws in Serie B, and the first leg of the current season also ended 1-1. The matches typically develop slowly but usually pick up speed over the course of 90 minutes.
Como has already proven difficult to beat at home, winning both home games with convincing results, which justifies the recommendation for a home win at odds of 1.6. Interestingly, the defensive personnel situation of both teams could be the key to several betting tips. Como will be without regular defenders Dossena and Van der Brempt, while Genoa will be without ball winner Otoa and Grønbæk remains questionable. These absences support both the recommendation for “Over 3.5 goals” and, paradoxically, for “Under 1.5 goals – 1st half.” Vieira has already announced that his team will approach the game cautiously, and statistics clearly show that Como has scored less than 1.5 goals at halftime in four of its last five games. Genoa has not conceded a goal before halftime this season. The odds of 3.8 for a draw seem quite generous considering that both teams are looking for stability after inconsistent starts to the season.
