Genoa vs. Juventus
The Old Lady got off to a successful start to the new season with a 2-0 win over Parma, while Genoa are still waiting for their first goal of the season after a goalless draw with Lecce. On the second matchday, the 14th-placed team welcomes the fourth-placed Turin side to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, with the starting position seeming crystal clear.
Patrick Vieira’s team showed little punch in their cautious start, but the French coach has already announced changes and could switch to a more defensive system against the big teams. Interestingly, he will be able to call on the recovered Caleb Ekuban, with only Otoa still missing.
The Bianconeri were in a goal-scoring mood at the start of the season, but will have to do without Andrea Cambiaso, who has been suspended for two games after receiving a red card against Parma. The betting markets see Juventus as clear favorites with over a 50% chance of winning, which is also underlined by their recent record: in the last five encounters, Juventus have won three times, lost only once, and never conceded more than one goal. Genoa’s last victory against the Turin side was over three years ago.
- Venue: Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
- Date and time: August 31, 2025, 6:30 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 2)
Genoa form & record check
Genoa’s start to the new season has been lackluster so far. The goalless draw against Lecce in front of over 32,000 spectators at the Ferraris was a disappointing performance with no real highlights. Only two shots on goal speak for themselves.
Patrick Vieira experimented with different formations in the first game, playing Grønbæk in a more central role and Stanciu on the left. However, the attack led by Colombo remained toothless, despite the three trequartisti behind him. This is also reflected in the current league table: 14th place with one point, level with Verona and Lecce.
Interestingly, Vieira will be able to call on Ekuban again for the Juventus game. The striker has recovered from his muscle injury and is back training with the team. This could open up new tactical options for the French coach, especially as he has already announced that he will play more defensively against the big teams than he did with his offensive approach against Lecce.
Recent performances paint a mixed picture: Genoa has scored in four of its last five games, but has also conceded goals on a regular basis. Only Otoa remains sidelined with injury, otherwise Vieira is spoiled for choice between players such as Østigård, Sabelli, and Malinovskyi.
Vieira is likely to rethink his starting lineup after the goalless draw against Lecce. The offensive 4-2-3-1 formation with three number 10s behind Colombo posed little threat in front of the opponent’s goal. Interestingly, the Frenchman is already hinting at wanting to play more defensively against the big teams.
Ekuban returns to the team after his muscle tear, even if he is not yet at 100%. Otoa, on the other hand, remains sidelined. In defense, Østigård and Sabelli could get their chance in the starting lineup, while Malinovskyi is available as an alternative in midfield. Up front, Colombo remains the favorite for the striker position.
Juventus Form & Record Check
Juventus is starting the new Serie A season with renewed vigor. The 2-1 win against Parma in the opening game already showed the influence of Igor Tudor, who has obviously set the team up well. Kenan Yıldız’s performance was particularly impressive, as he set up both goals and underlined his qualities as a playmaker.
The Bianconeri are in fourth place after the first matchday, level on points with Napoli and Como. Interestingly, Juventus have not drawn a single game so far, which suggests a clear focus. Their last five games in all competitions paint a mixed picture: three wins and two defeats, although the losses to Real Madrid and Manchester City in the Club World Cup are forgivable.
However, the personnel situation could be a problem. Andrea Cambiaso is missing due to his two-match suspension for the red card against Parma. In addition, Juan Cabal, Fabio Miretti, and Arkadiusz Milik are out with injuries. Transfer activity is not yet complete after Nicolò Savona moved to Nottingham Forest.
However, Tudor can rely on an attacking force that is already showing signs of promise. Both Dušan Vlahović and new signing Jonathan David have proven their scoring prowess. The team has scored in three consecutive games, showing remarkable consistency in both halves.
Juventus are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, which Tudor has favored recently. Di Gregorio will be between the posts, while the back three could consist of Bremer, Gatti, and Kelly. Kalulu and Kostić are likely to occupy the flanks.
In midfield, Locatelli and Thuram should control the center. However, there are a few important players missing behind them: Cambiaso is suspended for two games after his assault, and Miretti is struggling with a thigh injury. Up front, Conceição and Yıldız could play behind new striker David, who could make his debut.
H2H Genoa – Juventus Head-to-head & statistics
Head-to-head matches in recent years paint a pretty clear picture: Juventus has the upper hand in this pairing. In the last five meetings since 2022, Turin has won twice, while Genoa has been victorious only once. Two games ended in a draw.
The development of this series is particularly striking. Genoa’s only success was over three years ago, when they won 2-1 in May 2022. Since then, the Rossoblù have been unable to defeat the Bianconeri. The last two encounters both went to Juventus, most recently with a narrow 1-0 win in March 2025.
Interestingly, these duels were usually quite evenly matched at halftime. In all five games, the outcome was still undecided at the break, and the score was often goalless. The decisive moments regularly occurred in the second half. Genoa conceded at least one goal in four of the five games.
There is also a pattern in the number of goals: never more than three goals were scored per game. This suggests that both teams tend to be defensively stable in these matches and that goal fests are unlikely.
The tip for over 2.5 goals is based on the fact that both teams scored at least three goals in 80% of their last five encounters. Juventus have the qualities of Vlahović and new signing David, while Genoa regain an important offensive option with the fit Ekuban. Vieira’s announcement that he may change the formation and play less defensively against big teams than in the goalless opener against Lecce could add extra offensive emphasis.
Interestingly, the betting market seems to be pricing in the high probability of goals with odds of around 2.0 for this tip, but the xG values of both teams suggest a high-scoring duel. The recommendation “Both teams to score: Yes” is based on similar arguments, with Genoa’s home strength and Ekuban’s return weighing against Juventus’ offensive firepower.
The riskiest tip of a Genoa win in the second half may seem daring at first glance, but statistics show that the Rossoblù have never lost in the first halves of their last five games, while Juventus have not recorded a draw in the second halves. If Vieira does indeed increase the tempo in the closing stages with fresh players such as Vitinha or Messias, this could well bear fruit against a tired Juventus side without the suspended Cambiaso.
