Genoa vs Napoli Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Genoa are beginning their 2026-27 Serie A campaign with the visit of a Napoli side once again entering into a new era at the Luigi Ferraris.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount+ & DAZN
How to watch online: UK – HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & DAZN
Genoa preview: Need to improve
Genoa finished 16th in Serie A last season after drifting once again towards the back end of the campaign. The Genovese were in a woeful position when Daniele De Rossi took charge in the autumn, winless after 11 matches under the management of Patrick Vieira.
Genoa have made some steady signings in the summer transfer window with the headlines being the loan additions of Hamed Junior Traore from Olympique de Marseille and full-back Mario Mitaj from Al Ittihad.
Napoli preview: New era for Napoli
Antonio Conte led Napoli to their fourth Scudetto in the 2024-25 campaign before helping the Partenopei rally to finish as runners-up but, as ever, something of a fallout has led to his departure and he has been replaced by former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri.
Allegri returned to AC Milan last summer and attempted to make them become more serious but their woeful form at the back end of the campaign saw the Rossoneri slip out of the top four and the UEFA Champions League spots with Allegri leaving as a result.
Genoa team news: A few doubts
Genoa forward Lorenzo Venturino is a confirmed absentee with Genoa also dealing with a few doubts such as midfield duo Franz-Ethan Meichtry and Hamed Junior Traore, and forward Elias Havel.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Biljow; Ostigard, Johan Vasquez, Marcandalli; Norton-Cuffy, Alex Amorim, Baldanzi, Mitaj; Junior Messias, Vitinha, Colombo
Unavailable: Venturino (Injured)
Questionable: Meichtry (Injured), Traore (Injured), Havel (Injured)
Napoli team news: Defensive injuries
Napoli head to Liguria with some key absentees at the back as centre-backs Sam Beukema and Alessandro Buongiorno are sidelined alongside former Ajax forward David Neres.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Mathias Olivera; Politano, McTominay, Lobotka, De Bruyne, Spinazzola; Hojlund, Giovane
Unavailable: Beukema (Injured), Buongiorno (Injured), Marianucci (Injured), David Neres (Injured)
Questionable:
Genoa vs Napoli prediction
Napoli are expected to be as tedious to watch as ever with Allegri preferring an even duller and more reactive style of football to Conte. The Neapolitans head to a Genoa side that scored just 41 goals in their 38 games last season and have hardly improved their attack in the off season. As a result, a low-scoring encounter is to be expected on the opening day of the campaign with Napoli remaining the favourites, despite reasonable reservations about the direction in which the club is being taken.
Genoa vs Napoli tip: Napoli to win & under 3.5 goals
