Key Facts
- Pisa is in a slump: four losses in five games, failing to score in four of those matches.
- Genoa arrives in better form (three wins from five games) and recently secured a controlled 2-0 victory in Verona, signaling away-game stability.
- Pisa’s defense is further weakened by the absence of starting defender Daniel Denoon; the vulnerable back three thus loses a key component.
- Genoa must reshuffle its midfield due to six absences/suspensions—including Ellertsson, Frendrup, and Malinovskyi—leading to a more pragmatic lineup.
- The last three head-to-head matches all ended with under 2.5 goals; these encounters are rarely open and tend to produce few goals.
- Tactics and form suggest a low-scoring game: Pisa focused on counterattacks and lacking in goal-scoring threat, Genoa focused on ball control and defensive stability.
Daniele De Rossi described the match at the Arena Garibaldi as a sort of make-or-break game: Genoa isn’t safe yet, but a win on Matchday 33 would significantly ease the pressure. Under Oscar Hiljemark, Pisa remains in the relegation battle despite four losses in five matches, and the 1-1 draw in January suggests a closer contest than the standings might indicate.
- Venue: Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani, Pisa
- Date and time: April 19, 2026, 6:00 PM
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 33)
The market clearly sees Genoa as the favorite, and the logic behind it is understandable. Pisa has lost four of its last five league games, failing to score in four of those matches, while De Rossi is aiming for a repeat of the controlled 2-0 win in Verona.
Pisa Form & Record Check
The 3-0 loss at Roma was another bitter afternoon, but it doesn’t paint a complete picture of Pisa’s recent run. De Rossi’s own pre-match warning was revealing, as he pointed out that Oscar Hiljemark’s team had nearly taken the lead against Torino and was frequently punished by small details, rather than being clearly outclassed. The pattern in the league is hard to defend: Pisa has lost four of its last five games, failing to score in four of them and conceding in every match, often after halftime. Level on points with Hellas Verona, which sits directly above them, the battle is not yet decided, but the absence of Daniel Denoon comes at a very inopportune time for a defense that is already operating on a knife’s edge.
Pisa is likely to stick with its usual 3-4-2-1 formation, though this is more of a prediction than a confirmed lineup. Adrian Semper – 1 should be in goal, with Arturo Calabresi – 33, Antonio Caracciolo – 4, and Simone Canestrelli – 5 in front of him. Idrissa Touré – 15 and Samuele Angori – 3 will cover the wings in a team that plays compactly and transitions quickly. With Daniel Denoon sidelined due to ankle problems, Pisa is likely to simply stick with its tried-and-true back three rather than reshuffle the defense. In midfield, Michel Aebischer – 20 and Malthe Højholt – 8 are the most likely defensive midfield duo. Mehdi Léris – 7 and Matteo Tramoni – 10 should play close to Stefano Moreo – 32 if Pisa opts for counterattacks again.
Genoa Form & Record Check
Genoa is riding high after a 2-1 win against Sassuolo, but must reshuffle the midfield due to suspensions for Mikael Egill Ellertsson, Morten Frendrup, and Ruslan Malinovskyi, as well as further absences of Maxwel Cornet, Brooke Norton-Cuffy, and Jean Onana. Form-wise, things are looking good: three wins in five games, with the 2-0 victory in Verona serving as a model for controlled possession and strong second halves, despite occasional goals conceded and losses to Juventus and Udinese. In the standings, Genoa is level on points with Parma and just three points behind Torino; avoiding relegation remains the primary goal, with the potential to climb higher.
Genoa is expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, though this is only a prediction. Justin Bijlow – 16 is expected to start in goal behind Alessandro Marcandalli – 27, Leo Østigård – 5, and Johan Vásquez – 22, a back three tasked with controlling the game should Pisa sit back and look for counterattacking opportunities. In this projected lineup, Stefano Sabelli – 20 and Aarón Martín – 3 would provide width, while Patrizio Masini – 73 and Amorim – 4 are likely to form the central midfield duo. Tommaso Baldanzi – 8 and Junior Messias – 10 could then operate in the space behind the lines behind Lorenzo Colombo – 29. Availability plays a significant role in this prediction: Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Jean Onana, and Maxwel Cornet are out, which is why options on the wings and in midfield are limited. Morten Frendrup, Ruslan Malinovskyi, and Mikael Egill Ellertsson are also suspended for this Serie A match, which explains why this lineup is more pragmatic than bold.
Pisa – Genoa Head-to-Head & Stats
The last three meetings suggest caution rather than high drama: January 2026 ended 1-1, followed by a scoreless 0-0 draw in 2023, and the 2022 match in Pisa finished 0-1. Pisa is still waiting for its first win in this fixture, while Genoa has remained unbeaten in the last three games. The scoring pattern is even clearer: All three matches had fewer than 2.5 goals, and fewer than two goals were scored in every second half. That doesn’t automatically mean there will be so little action this time around, especially since Pisa is under pressure and needs points. But it fits the general impression that this matchup rarely produces long periods of open play.
