Genoa vs Inter Milan

Stadio Luigi Ferraris is the venue as Genoa and Inter Milan go head-to-head in a curtain-raising 2024/25 Serie A fixture.

Genoa fared reasonably well in their first season back in Serie A last term, clinching a respectable 11th-place finish. After inspiring the club to their joint-best top-flight finish since the 2015/16 campaign, head coach Alberto Gilardino lost standout striker Mateo Retegui to Atalanta and could soon see last season’s top-scorer Albert Gudmundsson leave the Marassi. Despite these unpleasant developments, the Griffins got the 2024/25 season off to a winning start, beating second-tier Reggiana 1-0 in last weekend’s Coppa Italia action. However, they’ve started their last two Serie A campaigns with a loss, including a 4-0 thumping to upcoming rivals Inter in August 2021. That defeat forms part of Genoa’s disastrous run of consecutive Serie A H2Hs without a win (D2, L8), with seven of the last eight seeing them fail to get on the scoresheet.

On the other hand, Inter Milan lifted a landmark 20th Scudetto last season in remarkable fashion, leaving second-placed AC Milan a whopping 19 points behind. Simone Inzaghi’s side only lost twice in 38 league matches in 2023/24, going down to the relegated Sassuolo each time (W29, D7). Despite their dominant title run, ‘I Nerazzurri’ cannot afford to rest easy, knowing the last four reigning holders have failed to defend their title, including Inter three years ago. The visitors will, nonetheless, seek a flying start. They’ve commenced their last five Serie A seasons with a win, but their recent visits to Luigi Ferraris have not gone to plan. After three consecutive league wins at this venue by 2+ goals ‘to nil,’ they’ve drawn two in a row, netting just one goal. .