- 1 Genoa vs Naples: one win in 26 for the Rossoblu in this fixture
- 2 Genoa: De Rossi begins his first full season with a reshaped squad
- 3 Naples: a battered centre-back pairing for Allegri’s first outing
- 4 Serie A Prediction Genoa vs Naples
- 5 Before anything else, a word on our free picks
- 6 No commitment from us
- 7 Information that can change
- 8 Your responsibility
- 9 Responsible gambling first
- 10 Legal age
- 11 About the images…
Genoa vs Naples: one win in 26 for the Rossoblu in this fixture 
Genoa have beaten Naples just once in the last 26 Serie A meetings. Seventeen of those clashes ended in defeat for the Ligurian side.
That ugly historical imbalance sets the tone for the new season, which begins on Saturday at 20:45 at the Stadio Luigi-Ferraris. Naples start a new era there, with Massimiliano Allegri now in charge.
The Campania club finished second behind Inter last season and also lifted the Italian Super Cup. Antonio Conte has gone, and De Laurentiis has handed the reins to the Tuscan coach, who had already followed Conte on the Juventus bench once before.
Genoa, meanwhile, ended up 16th and only secured survival after a scrappy campaign, with no wins in their final five league games. Daniele De Rossi, appointed in November to replace Patrick Vieira, is about to begin his first full season in Liguria.
Both sides returned to competitive action in the Coppa Italia last week, with Genoa cruising past Ascoli 4-1. Naples wrapped up their build-up with a statement win over Aris, 6-2.
There is one detail that gives this opener extra bite: back in February, on this same pitch, Rasmus Hojlund snatched a 3-2 win in the dying seconds. The Dane is still there, and Naples’ defence is still very much a work in progress.
That Italian Super Cup win during the campaign was a reminder that Naples maintained a very high standard even without the title, which went to Inter. Genoa, by contrast, finished 16th after spending much of the season hovering near the danger zone.
Genoa: De Rossi begins his first full season with a reshaped squad 
Survival in May was the target, and it was achieved, but the manner of it left scars. The Rossoblu ended the season without a win in their last five matches, having built their escape on a strong winter run.
De Rossi has inherited a group that can defend in spells, but one that lacks consistency over the length of a season. He has made it clear he wants more than 16th place.
Pre-season sent mixed signals. The 10-1 hiding from Bournemouth was the low point of Genoa’s summer, full stop.
The 4-1 Coppa Italia win over Ascoli at least put things back on track. Lorenzo Colombo and new signing Elias Havel were both on the scoresheet.
Colombo should lead the line on Saturday. Five of his seven Serie A goals last season came at the Ferraris, which makes a strong case for his selection. Havel is expected to start on the bench.
In terms of movement, Jeff Ekhator and Ruslan Malinovskyi have left the club, while Mario Mitaj has arrived on loan from Al-Ittihad and marked his debut with an assist. The other new arrival, Hamed Traore, is currently injured.
Last season ended with no wins in the final five rounds, even though survival was already almost wrapped up. De Rossi will need to stamp out that habit of fading when the pressure should already be gone.
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Naples: a battered centre-back pairing for Allegri’s first outing 
Naples have won eight and scored 23 goals across their last nine opening Serie A games. They usually start fast.
Last season gave them both the good and the bad: second place and the Italian Super Cup on one side, an exit before the Champions League knockout stages on the other. Allegri arrives with the job of bringing some order after Conte’s departure.
The Tuscan coach knows the city well, having ended his playing career there. His pre-season has been encouraging after an opening defeat, with three wins from four for the Vesuvians.
Naples have been restrained in the market. Romelu Lukaku has left for Fenerbahce, Benoit Badiashile is set to arrive from Chelsea, and Kevin De Bruyne is still at Naples for now.
The real issue lies in the centre of defence. Sam Beukema and Luca Marianucci are injured, though the former could make the bench; Alessandro Buongiorno has had knee surgery and is not expected back before the November international break; and Brazilian winger David Neres is also unavailable.
Up front, the firepower is still there with Hojlund and Scott McTominay, who finished as the club’s top scorer last season with 10 goals. Costantino Favasuli has been signed as cover for captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Naples’ transfer business has been cautious, but Badiashile’s arrival is becoming more urgent given the state of the back line. Allegri built his reputation on defensive solidity, which makes these absences all the more awkward for his first match in charge of the Campania side.
Likely Genoa XI: Bijlow ; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vasquez ; Norton-Cuffy, Frendrup, Sow, Mitaj ; Baldanzi, Vitinha ; Colombo
Likely Naples XI: Meret ; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Marin, Spinazzola ; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay ; Politano, Hojlund, Alisson
Serie A Prediction Genoa vs Naples
Our prediction: Naples to win
There is no real mystery here: Genoa have one win in the last 26 Serie A meetings, including two defeats last season. Naples, for their part, have won eight of their last nine season openers.
Genoa have had a mixed summer, capped by that 10-1 hammering against Bournemouth, and they will also be without Traore. Even with Buongiorno and Marianucci missing at the back, Naples still look miles stronger in midfield, with Anguissa, Lobotka and McTominay.
Allegri should begin his reign with three points at the Ferraris.
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