Turin welcomes bottom-of-the-table Genoa to the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon, with both teams going into this first direct duel of the Serie A season with completely different prospects. FC Turin, currently 14th with eight points, is riding high after a surprise 1-0 home win against Napoli, in which Giovanni Simeone scored the decisive goal and Marco Baroni got the tactical touch right with his 3-5-2 system. Genoa, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the table with only three points, having won just one of their seven games and most recently failing to score in a goalless draw against Parma, which is why Patrick Vieira is under massive pressure despite public backing from the club. The history between the two teams promises a defensive afternoon: All five of their last head-to-head matches have ended with less than 2.5 goals, including three goalless draws.
- Venue: Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Turin
- Date and time: October 26, 2025, 12:30 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (Matchday 8)
Main tip: Turin to win. Turin is considered a moderate favorite by the betting market with odds of around 2.3 and is in good form with two wins and one draw from its last three games. Simeone is in good form after his goal against his former club Napoli, which suggests dangerous offensive action against Genoa’s vulnerable defense.
Under 2.5 goals also seems plausible, as Torino’s defensive stability is impressive: three of their last four games have remained below this mark, including narrow 1-0 wins against Napoli and Pisa and a goalless draw at Lazio. Genoa averages only about 0.8 goals per game and plays a compact 3-5-2 formation under Patrick Vieira.
For more risk-taking bettors, a win to nil is a good option: Torino has not conceded a goal in the second half in its last four games, while Genoa has failed to score in 60 percent of its away games. The absence of Stanciu further weakens Genoa’s limited offense and increases the likelihood of a shutout. The safest bet remains a home win for Torino, supplemented by under 2.5 goals for more cautious bettors.
Torino Form & Record Check
After seven matchdays, Torino is in 14th place with eight points, level on points with Cagliari, and the season has been sluggish so far, although the recent 1-0 home win against Napoli provided some relief. Giovanni Simeone, now a permanent signing, scored his first goal at the Olympic Stadium after a rebound from Gilmour and reacted with restraint, refraining from celebrating out of respect for his former club. Coach Marco Baroni successfully deployed the striking duo of Simeone and Adams with Vlašić behind them for the first time.
The record from the last five competitive games shows two wins, one draw, and two defeats. Offensively, the team scores regularly in 80 percent of games, but defensively they are vulnerable: in four of their last five league games, Torino have conceded at least one goal, including a 3-3 draw at Lazio, a 2-1 defeat at Parma, and a 3-0 loss to Atalanta.
The personnel situation is tense: regular goalkeeper Franco Israel is out with bruised ribs, Niels Nkounkou and Zakaria Aboukhlal have thigh problems, while Perr Schuurs is out for the long term after knee surgery and Tino Anjorin with heel spurs. Cristiano Biraghi is likely to replace Nkounkou, Vlašić could start again. Statistically notable: four of the last five games have ended in a draw in the second half, which indicates problems in holding on to results. After the narrow win against Napoli, Baroni sought contact with the fans and opened the Filadelfia training center as a gesture of inclusion.
Turin are likely to line up in their tried-and-tested 3-5-2 system with a few injury-enforced changes. In defense, Biraghi could replace the injured Nkounkou, while Vlašić is once again an option for the starting lineup in midfield. The strike duo of Simeone and Adams proved their worth against Napoli and are likely to start together again.
Genoa Form & Record Check
Genoa are bottom of the table with three points, level on points with Fiorentina just above them, which shows how tight it is at the bottom of the table. The offensive statistics are alarming: only three league goals in seven games, while the team has conceded at least two goals in four of their last five league games. The goalless draw against Parma and a missed penalty underscore the team’s glaring inability to convert chances.
After defeats in Naples (1-2), against Lazio (0-3) and Bologna (1-2), the draw against Parma was at least the first clean sheet in weeks, with the only bright spot being the 3-1 win in the Coppa Italia game against Empoli. Coach Patrick Vieira emphasizes fighting spirit and training participation, but identifies a lack of precision as the main problem. Personnel concerns are mounting: Stanciu is out until the end of October with a thigh injury, and Marcandalli has muscle problems.
The core problems are obvious: poor finishing, a lack of creativity in attack, a vulnerable defense, and a tight personnel situation are a classic combination for teams at the bottom of the table.
Patrick Vieira is likely to field his usual 3-4-2-1 formation, with Sabelli, Østigård, and Vásquez in a back three, while Norton-Cuffy and Martín take up the wide positions. Stanciu is out with a thigh injury, and Marcandalli is also sidelined with muscle problems, which is why Frendrup and Masini could be given preference in central midfield. In attack, Vitinha could play up front, with Malinovskyi and Carboni behind him as creative forces, although Vieira emphasized that the team needs to work on its efficiency despite creating chances.
Turin – Genoa Head-to-head & Statistics
The head-to-head record of the last five matches between Turin and Genoa is extremely defensive: one win each for Turin and Genoa and three draws, with no more than two goals scored in any of these games. It is noteworthy that in all five games, not a single goal was scored in the second half; all goals were scored before the break. The most recent results underscore this trend: February 2025 ended 1-1, December 2024 ended scoreless, and a total of four of the five games ended with a maximum of one goal. Turin last won 1-0 in September 2023, while Genoa’s last victory came in March 2022. This history suggests a game in which tactical discipline and defensive organization will clearly take precedence over offensive risk-taking.
