Genoa vs Inter Milan Prediction: Back Lautaro to pick up where he left off

The Serie A season starts this weekend and our first match preview of the campaign is the Saturday tea-time clash between Genoa and Inter Milan. The game will be live on TNT Sports 2 from 17:30.

Our Italian Football expert Daniele Fisichella has the assignment for this one as he takes us through the game and his Genoa vs Inter Milan Predictions...

As Serie A kicks off, the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa is set to host a thrilling encounter between Genoa and Inter Milan.  

The match promises to be an exciting clash, with Genoa aiming to build on their solid previous season and Inter eager to defend their title and extend their dominance in Italian football. 

Under Alberto Gilardino's guidance, Genoa had a successful campaign last year, finishing comfortably mid-table. Their performance was marked by defensive solidity and attacking creativity, including a respectable 1-1 draw against Inter in December 2023.  

This season, Genoa targets a top-10 finish, though their squad has changed significantly. The potential departure of star player Albert Gudmundsson, who impressed with 14 goals and 4 assists last season, and the loss of Mateo Retegui to Atalanta could create a significant void. 

Inter Milan enters the new season with high expectations after their triumphant 2023/2024 campaign.  

The Nerazzurri secured the Scudetto with a rock-solid defence, conceding just 11 goals in 19 away games.  

The squad remains largely unchanged and continues to be a leading candidate for the Serie A title.  

Simone Inzaghi, now in his fourth year in charge, has bolstered his side with key signings such as Mehdi Taremi and Piotr Zielinski. Taremi, in particular, has impressed in preseason, although recent injury concerns cast doubt on his availability for this match. Lautaro Martinez, who recently extended his contract until 2029, Nicolo Barella, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu are expected to play prominent roles.  

The defense, anchored by Francesco Acerbi, Benjamin Pavard, and Alessandro Bastoni, will be crucial for another successful campaign. 

Team News: 

Genoa’s manager Alberto Gilardino will contend with a somewhat depleted attacking line-up. With Mateo Retegui departed and uncertainty surrounding Ekuban and Gudmundsson, Gilardino is likely to deploy Junior Messias and Vitinha up front.

Summer signing Gollini will be in goal, with the defence featuring a three-man line of Vogliacco, Bani, and Vazquez, and De Winter as a potential right centre-back. Zanoli and Aaron Martin will play as full-backs, while Badelj and Frendrup anchor the midfield, with Malinovskyi and Thorsby vying for the final spot. 

Inter should have a more settled line-up despite some injuries. Sommer will start in goal, with Pavard, Acerbi, and Bastoni forming the backline, though Bisseck’s strong preseason could challenge Pavard’s spot.

Midfield will feature Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, and Barella, with Zielinski sidelined. Dimarco is assured of his left-back position, while Dumfries and Darmian compete for the right-back role. The attack will be spearheaded by Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, with Taremi possibly making a late appearance if fit and Arnautovic pushing to return from injury. 

Genoa vs Inter Milan Odds

For Serie A’s season opener, betting odds heavily favour the visitors, reflecting their formidable 2023/2024 campaign.  

Inter Milan is priced at 4/7 to win, while Genoa is at 5/1, with a draw at 3/1 suggesting a less likely outcome.  

The odds for Over 2.5 Goals and Under 2.5 Goals are both set at 5/6, indicating a balanced match.  

Inter’s recent performances, including six of their last ten away games ending with Over 2.5 Goals, support this.  

Additionally, Inter’s history of narrow victories - ten single-goal wins last season and 21 of 38 Serie A games without conceding—aligns with Genoa’s susceptibility to narrow defeats, with ten of their 13 losses last season by a single goal. 

Betting Tips: 

*You can check out all of our Football Odds over at betfred.com

Under 2.5 Goals @ 5/6: Genoa's preseason form has been mixed, with a narrow 1-0 victory over Reggiana in the Coppa Italia. The absence of Gudmundsson could impact their attacking effectiveness, but Messias and Vitinha should still pose a threat. 

Lautaro Martinez Anytime Goalscorer @ 13/10: The Argentine’s leadership and goal-scoring prowess will be crucial for Inter.  

With 24 Serie A goals last season and a total of 35 across all competitions, Martinez is a key figure. His partnership with Taremi, if fit, could be decisive in breaching Genoa’s defence. 

Daniele Fisichella primarily covers Serie A for us at Betfred Insights. You can check out all of his Football Betting Tips here each week along with those of our other Football writers...