Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Serie A match.
Despite putting in two decent performances in November, Genoa have parted ways with Alberto Gilardino. The coaching staff under Patrick Vieira will now prepare the team for the clash with Cagliari, seeing this as a crucial opportunity to make a mark in Italy—potentially a final chance to establish themselves as top specialists.
Genoa
With a win over Parma (1:0) and a draw against Como (1:1), Genoa climbed above Lecce to move out of the relegation zone. It's clear that Patrick Vieira must first address the defensive issues—the team have conceded 22 goals in 12 matches, making them third from the bottom alongside their upcoming opponents. In terms of xGA, Genoa rank second from last (23.73), with attention focused on Mario Balotelli, who has only picked up two yellow cards since returning to Serie A.
Cagliari
As for Cagliari, the mid-table side create more opportunities than Genoa (16.14-10.99 in xG) but face greater defensive struggles. They sit at the bottom of the table for expected goals against (23.80). Against AC Milan at home (3:3), they managed to secure a point with a spirited second-half performance. Cagliari see the return of previously suspended Yerry Mina and Michel Adopo, though this may do little to bolster their defensive reliability.
Genoa vs Cagliari Prediction
Since their return to the top flight, Genoa and Cagliari have exchanged home victories, delighting fans with goals (1:2 and 3:0). This time in Genoa, the mid-table clash should again surpass the total over.
