Unbeaten in four league games in a row and yet still only in 16th place, Genoa travels to the Bluenergy Stadium on Monday, where Udinese urgently needs to stabilize its home form after a disappointing Coppa Italia exit. Udinese is in 10th place in Serie A with 18 points, just ahead of the broad midfield, while Genoa is in 16th place with 11 points, seven points behind, and clearly sees this match as a chance to break away from the relegation battle. However, both teams have just suffered a significant setback: Udinese lost 2-0 to Juventus in the cup, with Kosta Runjaić describing the first half as the weakest of his tenure, while Genoa went down 4-0 at Atalanta after receiving a yellow-red and red card, with Daniele De Rossi having to work on his confidence afterwards. The head-to-head record currently favors the visitors, with Genoa unbeaten in five games against Udinese, recording three wins and two draws during that period. The most recent games have also been mostly tough affairs with few goals, with four of the last five head-to-head games seeing fewer than 2.5 goals scored, and there were often few chances for either side after the break. Tactically, it is likely to be a physical and tight game. Udinese are dangerous from set pieces and repeatedly seek second balls with high intensity. Genoa need to be more stable in the penalty area and in the air, which is exactly what De Rossi has been demanding for weeks, especially from set pieces. The return of Norton-Cuffy will be important for the visitors. He is expected to return to the right side after his suspension and stabilize the defense, while Grønbæk and Cornet remain sidelined, limiting the offensive rotation. Udinese will focus primarily on their target players from set pieces and their tall strikers and central players, who can exploit Genoa’s weaknesses in the air. Genoa, on the other hand, will be looking to Norton-Cuffy and those players who need to make the most of the few opportunities they get with better positioning in the penalty area and more precise crosses. Everything points to a cautious, low-scoring game. The combination of head-to-head results, the strain of cup games, and caution in the middle of the table suggests a tight match, with the first 45 minutes likely to be characterized by risk aversion. The best single bet is under 2.5 goals, with a 1-1 draw or a narrow 1-0 win for one of the two teams seeming most plausible. The bookmakers’ slight favoritism toward Udinese suggests a possible home win, although from an analytical point of view, a draw remains the most likely scenario.
- Venue: Bluenergy Stadium – Stadio Friuli, Udine
- Date and time: 08.12.2025, 6:00 p.m.
- Competition: Serie A (matchday 14)
From a betting perspective, Genoa to win is therefore a possibility, but the double chance X2 (Genoa or draw) is more likely, as it better reflects the away trend and the relative stability of the Genoese and limits the downside risk. In terms of goals, there are reasons to believe that the game will be more open than the head-to-head results suggest. Genoa scores regularly, while Udinese looked vulnerable defensively against Juventus and Bologna on several occasions, making markets such as Both Teams to Score: Yes and Over 2.5 Goals interesting, depending of course on the exact odds. The fact that De Rossi is explicitly working on controlling his own penalty area and pressing higher up the pitch supports the idea that Genoa will not simply sit back, but rather want to force chances, which in turn underpins both away and X2 bets as well as goal-oriented approaches for Monday’s game.
Udinese Calcio Form & Record Check
Udinese are 10th in the table with 18 points, level on points with Lazio and one point ahead of Cremonese, but still below expectations at the start of the season under Kosta Runjaić, because good phases are repeatedly followed by clear setbacks. Two wins from their last five Serie A games have been offset by heavy defeats and missed opportunities: a 2-0 away win in Parma provided some breathing space, but it followed a sobering 3-0 home defeat to Bologna and a 2-0 defeat in Rome. The other positive league game was a narrow 1-0 win against Atalanta. During the week, they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia with a 2-0 defeat at Juventus, including an unfortunate own goal by 17-year-old Palma. Overall, despite rotation, the game lacked the intensity demanded by Runjaić. Statistically, Udinese have recently scored few goals in the first half, often with less than two goals before the break. Overall, most games have fewer than three goals, but often exceed the 1.5 mark. Nicolò Zaniolo stands out, having scored four times in 11 Serie A appearances and is considered a consistent offensive option. There are additional risks lurking in the squad for the coming weeks: provisional AFCON call-ups for Okoye, Zemura, Kamara, Bayo, Modesto, and Gueye could limit depth, and Kamara’s current problem with a heel spur adds to the uncertainty, while the final squads must be submitted by December 11. Udinese relies on a physical, direct style of play, which De Rossi expects Genoa to feel the effects of on Monday. At the same time, Runjaić must work on converting individual bursts of brilliance, such as those from Zaniolo, into more consistent collective performances in order to avoid another disappointing result against faster or structurally stronger opponents.
Udinese are likely to line up in their usual 3-1-4-2 formation at their home ground, the Bluenergy Stadium. Okoye is expected to start in goal, with a back three of Palma, Solet, and Bertola in front of him. Karlström will play as a defensive midfielder to maintain balance and support the two wide players. With Hassane Kamara out with a heel spur, Zemura is likely to move to the left side, while Ehizibue will provide width and depth on the right. Lovrić and Atta are expected to play in the attacking midfield and wing roles, bringing creativity and linking up with the strikers. Zaniolo is likely to play as the nominal number 10 behind striker Buksa, with his recent run of four goals this season and his physical presence making him the central attacking figure. Overall, Runjaić is relying on a stable axis with Okoye, Karlström, and Solet, which will be supported up front by the width provided by Ehizibue and Zemura, as well as Zaniolo’s passes, to set up Buksa in the penalty area.
Genoa Form & Record Check
Genoa are currently in 16th place with 11 points, level with Cagliari and Parma, so the gaps in the bottom third of the table are minimal, which means that every result carries particular weight. After four positive league performances in a row, victories against Sassuolo and Verona and draws against Fiorentina and Cagliari, the mood was noticeably better before the clear 0-4 defeat in the Coppa Italia at Atalanta, exacerbated by a red card for Fini, forced De Rossi to focus on mental rebuilding ahead of the next league game. Genoa’s recent form speaks in their favor offensively, but against them defensively: in each of their last five games, more than 2.5 goals were scored, they conceded goals in all of these games, but scored themselves in each of their last four league games, with the strike partnership of Colombo and Vitinha increasingly gelling. The downside is a continuing vulnerability to crosses and sometimes poor positioning in their own penalty area, points that De Rossi has publicly addressed and which Udinese will naturally exploit with their set-piece strength. Norton-Cuffy returns from suspension on the right side for the game in Udine, which is important given some illnesses in the squad, while Grønbæk and Cornet remain sidelined, limiting options in attacking midfield and on the wings. De Rossi is predicting a very physical game and is demanding much more presence in the penalty area from his strikers, who should consistently finish off chances instead of just limiting themselves to creating opportunities. Overall, it is to be expected that Genoa will continue to play proactively in attack in Udine, creating chances and scoring goals, but at the same time remaining vulnerable, meaning that games involving Genoa are likely to produce several goals. The coaching team’s tactical focus is clearly on improving the organization of crosses and set pieces, the marking in the penalty area, and fitness management after the recent cases of fever, in order to maintain intensity and consistency in league play and continue the positive run in the championship despite the cup setback.
Genoa are expected to line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation once again. The starting eleven is likely to be based on recent league games, with a goalkeeper behind three center backs, two fullbacks for width, two central midfielders, Carboni in the attacking midfield at number ten, and Vitinha and Colombo as the strike duo. Norton-Cuffy returns to the lineup as right full-back after serving his suspension, bringing dynamism back to the right side. Cornet is out with muscle problems and will not be available, as is Grønbæk, who is likely to be rested due to a lack of fitness. In addition, several squad players have been struggling with fever during the week, which may necessitate late personnel decisions. De Rossi is likely to maintain his usual 3-4-1-2 balance, with Carboni as the link-up player behind the striker and the continued Vitinha-Colombo partnership, which is harmonizing better with each game, while Norton-Cuffy’s return should stabilize the right side in the transition between midfield and attack.
Udinese Calcio – Genoa Head-to-head & Statistics
In a direct comparison, Udinese go into the game with the clear goal of ending an uncomfortable run against Genoa, as the visitors have won three consecutive matches, including a 1-0 away win in April 2025 and a 2-0 win in Friuli in December 2024. Udinese have been waiting for a win against Genoa for five games in total, with only two draws during that period. The encounters have mostly been low-scoring recently, with the total number of goals remaining under 2.5 in four of the last five matches, the only exception being a 2-2 draw in Friuli in October 2023. There is also a noticeable trend towards quiet second halves: in all five of these games, fewer than 1.5 goals were scored after the break, suggesting that both teams struggle to create clear chances or take risks late in the game. Udinese’s defensive vulnerability in this fixture is clear, conceding in four of the five games and losing three in a row without scoring themselves, with their last clean sheet in this fixture dating back to 2022. Kosta Runjaić will therefore have to push not only for a more compact defense but also for clearer offensive solutions if his team is to finally turn this record around.
