While Genoa, with only three points at the bottom of the table, is desperately searching for a way out of the crisis, Sassuolo welcomes the Rossoblu to the MAPEI Stadium on Monday, November 3, 2025, with confidence. After two consecutive wins, the Neroverdi have climbed to 10th place and now face an opponent in disarray: Following the dismissal of Andoni Iraola, Genoa is being led by an interim coaching duo of Roberto Murgita and Domenico Criscito, and sporting director Marco Ottolini has also been shown the door. Sassuolo is coming off a deserved 2-1 away win in Cagliari, where Laurienté and Pinamonti scored, while Genoa is under enormous pressure after its home defeat to Cremonese and the associated fan protests. In terms of personnel, Fabio Grosso will likely have to do without Romagna, who has muscle problems, and Boloca, who has knee problems, while Berardi could be rested after his early substitution. The last five head-to-head matches have been high-scoring affairs with at least two goals per game, with both teams scoring in each case, which suggests an open game despite Genoa’s poor season.
- Venue: MAPEI Stadium – Città del Tricolore, Reggio Emilia
- Date and time: 03.11.2025, 6:30 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 10)
The data clearly points to a home win for Sassuolo. Genoa has not won in five competitive games, losing its last two and failing to score in five games. Internal unrest following Iraola’s dismissal makes the visitors even more fragile, while Sassuolo looks much more stable with two wins under its belt. However, the numbers reinforce this theory even more strongly: Genoa’s considerable problems in converting chances and organizational deficiencies, exacerbated by the switch to an interim duo, are up against Sassuolo’s three home wins and defensive stability. The bet on under 2.5 goals is also interesting, as both teams show defensive caution at the start of the game: Sassuolo had less than 1.5 goals at halftime in 80% of their last encounters, and their recent home wins averaged only 1.3 goals. A speculative tip would be “Both teams to score: No,” as Genoa has not scored in their last five games, while Sassuolo has finished two of their last five home games without conceding a goal.
Sassuolo Form & Record Check
Sassuolo is in 10th place with 13 points, level on points with Atalanta and just one point behind Cremonese in 9th. Coach Fabio Grosso has stabilized his team in the last five league games with a record of three wins, one draw, and one loss. Sassuolo deservedly won their most recent away game in Cagliari 2-1 with goals from Laurienté in the 54th minute and Pinamonti, while Esposito pulled one back for the hosts. Prior to that, they suffered a narrow 1-0 home defeat to league leaders AS Roma through a goal from Dybala. Their defensive stability after halftime is striking, with Sassuolo unbeaten in their last five games, while the first half is often uneventful, with four games seeing less than 1.5 goals at the break. Several absences are weighing on Grosso: Boloca is expected to be out until mid-November with knee problems, Pieragnolo is out for the entire season with a cruciate ligament rupture, and Romagna and Skjellerup have muscle problems. Berardi was rested recently and could be an option again. Without spectacle, but with efficient play and stable defensive performance in the second half, Sassuolo is currently looking solid.
Coach Fabio Grosso is likely to rely on his tried-and-tested 4-3-3 system in the home game against Genoa. Murić is expected to be in goal, with Coulibaly, Idzes, Walukiewicz, and Doig forming the back four. Matić, Koné, and Thorstvedt are expected to form a stable trio in central midfield. The offense will be led by Berardi, who has been rested recently, Pinamonti as striker, and Laurienté. Boloca is still out with knee problems and Romagna with a torn muscle fiber, while Pieragnolo is out for the entire season. The above lineup is a prediction; official confirmation will be made shortly before kickoff.
Genoa Form & Record Check
Genoa is going through one of the most difficult phases in its recent history. With only three points from eight games, the club is bottom of the Serie A table. After the recent 0-2 home defeat against Cremonese, the club’s management reacted drastically: head coach Andoni Iraola was dismissed, and sporting director Marco Ottolini also had to vacate his post. Roberto Murgita and Domenico Criscito are taking over on an interim basis and are already ready for the game against Sassuolo. The form curve is alarming, with four defeats and one draw from the last five league games and no wins. The collapse after the break is particularly striking: in four of the last five games, the Rossoblu conceded goals in the second half and did not score after the break. The 0-2 defeat against Cremonese exemplified the problems when Bonazzoli scored with a bicycle kick shortly after the restart and repeated the feat in the second half. The previous results, 0-3 against Lazio, 1-2 in Turin after a late goal and a lackluster 0-0 against Parma, reveal defensive weaknesses and a lack of consistency. Center back Otoa is out with muscle problems, and after the change of coach, there is uncertainty about the tactical approach. The tense mood among the fans exacerbates the situation; during the game against Cremonese, fireworks were thrown onto the field and the fans booed the team. The interim duo faces a Herculean task: bringing stability to the defense in the short term, restoring the team’s confidence, and picking up the first points as soon as possible.
CFC Genoa is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Interim coach Roberto Murgita is leading the team together with Domenico Criscito following the departure of Patrick Vieira. In defense, Norton-Cuffy could start on the right, Østigård and Vásquez in central defense, and Martín on the left. Frendrup and Masini are expected to start in midfield, with Cornet, Carboni, and Ellertsson providing creative impetus in front of them. Ekhator is likely to start up front, with Otoa still out with muscle problems. Thorsby, Stanciu, Messias, and strikers Vitinha, Colombo, and Ekuban are among those on the bench. The lineup is a prediction; the final training session will determine the final decision.
Sassuolo – Genoa Head-to-head comparison & statistics
In the head-to-head record, Genoa are slightly ahead of Sassuolo with two wins to one, plus two draws. Genoa won the two most recent encounters in December 2023 and May 2024, both 2-1 away from home. Both teams scored in all five games, with at least two goals per game, indicating open, vulnerable defenses on both sides. Sassuolo led at halftime in four of the five games but was often unable to maintain its lead. Genoa scored after the break in four of the five encounters and repeatedly showed its comeback qualities. The frequent pattern shows a strong first half from Sassuolo and stronger counterattacks from Genoa in the second half, with the two most recent encounters in particular proving that Genoa can turn deficits around. The probability of a game with goals from both sides is high, and bets on “Both teams to score: Yes” or Over 2.5 goals seem plausible based on history. A game with Sassuolo leading at halftime and Genoa coming back in the second half is also a realistic scenario.
