Genoa welcome Vicenza to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday night for a Coppa Italia first-round clash that pits Serie A quality against a club still finding its feet in Serie C. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:45 CET, and the bookmakers make the Griffoni overwhelming 1.45 favourites, with the visitors priced as long as 7.50 and the draw available at 4.20.
FORM CHECK
Genoa’s pre-season was encouraging: three wins, one draw and only one defeat in five friendlies, including a 3-1 victory over Bundesliga side Bochum. Alberto Gilardino has switched to a 3-5-2 that maximises the pace of winger Junior Messias and the hold-up play of new signing Mateo Retegui. The back three, marshalled by captain Domenico Criscito, conceded just twice in those warm-up games.
Vicenza, relegated from Serie B in May, sold top scorer Simone Pontisso and are still integrating 11 new players. Their last competitive outing was a 2-0 defeat at Feralpisalò on 20 May, and two July friendlies produced a draw with Trento (1-1) and a loss to Padova (0-2). Coach Michele Serena is expected to start 19-year-old striker Alessio Curcio alongside experienced Nikola Kalinić, but the team’s build-up play has looked disjointed.
TACTICAL MATCH-UP
Genoa will press high, funnel play down the left where Messias links with full-back Alessandro Vogliacco, and look for early crosses to Retegui. Vicenza’s 4-3-3 morphs into a 4-5-1 without the ball, but the wide midfielders have struggled to track back, leaving full-backs isolated. Expect Genoa’s overloads to create a steady stream of corners.
KEY STATS
– Genoa have won their last five cup ties against lower-division opposition, scoring 2+ goals each time.
– Vicenza have kept only one clean sheet in their previous 14 away cup fixtures.
– The Veneti have lost both times they faced Genoa in the Coppa Italia, most recently a 4-0 drubbing in 2003.
INJURY & SUSPENSION NEWS
Genoa left-back Filip Jagiełło (knee) is out, while midfielders Kevin Strootman and Milan Badelj are being eased back after minor strains. Vicenza will travel without centre-back Filippo Ranocchia (suspended after last season’s red) and long-term absentee midfielder Luca Strizzolo.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Genoa (3-5-2): Martínez; Dragusin, Bani, Criscito; Sabelli, Frendrup, Badelj, Strootman, Vogliacco; Messias, Retegui.
Vicenza (4-3-3): Grandi; Bruschi, Celiento, Cappelletti, Barlocco; Iori, Della Giovanna, Scoppa; Curcio, Kalinić, Giacomin.
BETTING ANGLE & SCORE PREDICTION
Everything points to a home win. Genoa’s superior fitness, cohesion and individual quality should translate into a controlled 90 minutes. A handicap bet of Genoa -1.5 at 1.95 looks generous, while a 3-0 correct score is priced at 9.00 and offers value given Vicenza’s scoring woes.
Final call: Genoa 3-0 Vicenza – the Griffoni advance with minimum fuss.
