The Matchday 1 clash in Serie A between Genoa and Lecce will take place on August 23 at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium. Genoa vs. Lecce: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Genoa
The team finished last season in 13th place with 43 points. As a result, Genoa failed to break into the top 10 of Serie A for the tenth consecutive season. Notably, the club struggled towards the end of the championship, securing just one win in their last seven matches (2 draws, 4 losses). However, in their last three Serie A games, the Genoese scored seven goals. In preparation for the season, the team played four friendly matches, winning two and drawing two.
During the off-season, defenders Koni De Winter and Mattia Bani, along with forward Honest Ahanor, left the team. Meanwhile, Genoa strengthened their squad with midfielder Nicolae Stanciu. Additionally, the club acquired defender Leo Ostigard, midfielders Albert Gronbek and Valentin Carboni, and forward Lorenzo Colombo on loan.
- The club has not lost in 9 of their last 13 home matches in Serie A (5 wins, 4 draws).
- The team scored exactly 1 or 2 goals in 9 of their last 10 home league games.
- The Genoese have not conceded more than one goal in 6 of their last 9 home Serie A matches.
Predicted lineup for Genoa (4-5-1)
Nicola Leali – Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Leo Ostigard, Johan Vasquez, Aaron Martin Caricol – Valentin Carboni, Morten Frendrup, Nicolae Stanciu, Ruslan Malinovskyi, Albert Gronbek – Lorenzo Colombo.
Lecce
The club will play its fourth consecutive season in Serie A for the first time in its history. Last season, Lecce avoided relegation thanks to victories in the last two rounds, finishing 17th with 34 points. However, the team was the worst in Serie A in terms of goals scored (27). Additionally, the club scored only 14 times in away league matches – the fewest of all teams. In the off-season, Lecce played four friendly matches, winning two (1 draw, 1 loss).
During the current transfer window, defender Federico Baschirotto and forwards Ante Rebic and Nikola Krstovic left the team. Meanwhile, Lecce added defender Krist-Owen Kouassi to their squad. The club also acquired forwards Riccardo Sottil and Francesco Camarda on loan. Notably, Eusebio Di Francesco will manage the team for the new season.
- The team has not won in 6 of their last 7 away matches in Serie A (3 draws, 3 losses).
- The club scored exactly once in five of their last away league games.
- Both teams scored in 7 of Lecce's last 10 away Serie A matches.
Predicted lineup for Lecce (4-5-1)
Vladimiro Falcone – Antonino Gallo, Thiago Gabriel, Kialonda Gaspar, Krist-Owen Kouassi – Lassana Coulibaly, Balthazar Pierrot, Thorir Helgason, Konan N'Dri, Tete Morente – Francesco Camarda.
Forward Santiago Pierotti will not play due to suspension.
Referee
Davide Massa (Italy)
Matches – 19 (Serie A, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 82;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.3;
Red cards shown – 5;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 11%.
Genoa vs. Lecce: Match Prediction
The Genoese have had mixed success at home, but the team tends to favor an attacking style. As a result, Genoa rarely ends a match without scoring: in their last ten home league games, the players only failed to break through the opposition's defense once. This happened against Lazio, where the Genoese played with ten men from the middle of the first half. At the same time, the team conceded in 5 of their last 6 home matches.
Lecce did not boast high scoring numbers last season, but the club regularly found the net in away matches in the final rounds: in their last five away Serie A games, the team never left the field without scoring. However, in 10 of their last 12 away league matches, Lecce failed to keep a clean sheet.
It is also worth noting that in the last three head-to-head encounters at Genoa's home ground in Serie A, both teams scored. My prediction: Both teams to score – yes
