Genoa welcome Como to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Friday night searching for their first points of the new Serie A season. Daniele De Rossi’s side have lost to Napoli and Lazio without scoring, leaving them 16th after two matches.
Como have started much more strongly. A draw at Udinese was followed by an impressive 2-1 victory away to Napoli, where Martin Baturina and Anastasios Douvikas scored during a confident first-half performance.
Cesc Fàbregas has more options in attack and a settled system that should test a Genoa side still trying to turn tidy build-up into chances. Como are also unbeaten in four recent league meetings with Genoa, including a 2-0 win at this ground in April.
Our prediction is 0-2, with Como to Win at odds of 1.95 our best bet.
Quick Prediction
Best Bet: Como to Win
Market: Match Winner
Correct Score Prediction: Genoa 0-2 Como
Odds: 1.95
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Expected Goals: Under 2.5 Goals
Both Teams To Score: No
📅 Date: 4 September 2026
🏟️ Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris
🏆 Competition: Serie A, Matchday 3
Match Preview
Genoa’s opening two league matches have highlighted the problem De Rossi needs to solve. They were beaten 2-0 at home by Napoli before losing 1-0 to Lazio, failing to score in either game. Genoa moved the ball reasonably well for spells in Rome but rarely threatened the goal, and De Rossi was clear afterwards that his team needed more vertical passing, dribbling and shooting.
The current 3-4-1-2 places plenty of responsibility on Tommaso Baldanzi. He drops into midfield to help Genoa play through pressure, but that can leave him too far from Lorenzo Colombo and Vitinha. Colombo scored in the 4-1 Coppa Italia win over Ascoli, yet neither starting forward has found the net in Serie A.
Morten Frendrup and Djibril Sow give Genoa energy and experience in central midfield, while Alessandro Marcandalli, Leo Østigård and captain Johan Vásquez have formed a settled back three. The issue is what happens further forward. Genoa have failed to score in six of their last 10 competitive matches, and their last five home games have brought three defeats and no clean sheets.
The departure of Brooke Norton-Cuffy has also forced a change at wing-back. Mikael Ellertsson and Mario Mitaj are expected to take the wide roles, although new signing Cody Drameh is another option. Stephan El Shaarawy and Hamed Junior Traorè could add creativity from the bench, but neither is expected to be ready for a starting role.
Como arrive with greater confidence and a clear way of playing. Fàbregas has continued with his 4-2-3-1, asking his players to build patiently, press aggressively and react quickly when possession is lost. That approach worked at Napoli, where Como caused problems during the opening half before managing the game more carefully after the break.
Anastasios Douvikas has scored in both league matches and leads a fluid attack. Nicolás Paz works between the lines, Assane Diao brings pace and direct running, and Baturina can move inside from the left to combine with the number ten. Behind them, Luis Milla controls the tempo alongside captain Lucas Da Cunha, who adds mobility and helps Como press in midfield.
There is quality on the bench as well. Moise Kean is available following his arrival from Fiorentina, while Samuele Ricci, Maxence Caqueret and Máximo Perrone give Fàbregas several midfield combinations. With Como unbeaten across their last seven competitive matches, they look well placed to control long periods at the Ferraris.
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Why Como to Win Makes Sense
From a betting point of view, Como to Win at 1.95 looks a fair price given the difference between the teams in the opening weeks. Como have collected four points from two away fixtures, while Genoa have taken none and are still waiting for their first league goal.
The tactical matchup also favours Fàbregas’ team. Genoa want to play out through Justin Bijlow and their three centre-backs, but De Rossi has admitted that they have sometimes relied too heavily on the goalkeeper during build-up. Como’s pressing can target those early passes, with Paz stepping towards Douvikas and the wide players closing the available routes into midfield.
If Como regain possession in Genoa’s half, Diao and Baturina should have space around the outside of the back three. The home side are changing both wing-back roles following Norton-Cuffy’s transfer, and those areas could become difficult to defend when Yan Couto or Álex Valle push forward to join Como’s attacks.
Como have also proved they can win difficult away games. Their last five competitive trips have produced four wins and one draw, including victories at Genoa, Cremonese, Verona and Napoli. They have scored in nine of their last 10 away matches and already have several attackers contributing around Douvikas.
The main risk is Genoa’s intensity in front of their own supporters. Fàbregas expects an aggressive home press, and the Ferraris atmosphere can make it difficult for visiting teams to settle. Como also face RB Leipzig six days later, although their strong squad should reduce concerns over the upcoming European fixture.
Genoa may keep this close for a while, but they must show far more in the final third to punish Como. At 1.95, the away win is worth backing.
- ✓Como are unbeaten in their last seven competitive matches
- ✓Como have won four of their last five competitive away games
- ✓Genoa have lost both Serie A matches without scoring
- ✓Genoa have failed to score in six of their last 10 competitive games
- ✓Como are unbeaten in four recent Serie A meetings with Genoa
- ✓None of the last four meetings produced Over 2.5 Goals
- ✓Anastasios Douvikas has scored in both league matches this season
Team News
Genoa remain without Lorenzo Venturino, who is recovering from patellar-tendon surgery. There are no suspensions, but De Rossi must replace Norton-Cuffy after the wing-back completed a permanent move to Hull City. Ellertsson and Mitaj are the leading candidates to start out wide.
Sow is competing with Alex Amorim for a place alongside Frendrup, while Vitinha, Milutin Osmajic and Enzo Meichtry are options to partner Colombo. El Shaarawy may be named among the substitutes following his return to Genoa, and Traorè is also available for the bench as he works towards full fitness.
Como’s only confirmed absentee is Jayden Addai, who is not yet ready to return from his Achilles injury. Fàbregas otherwise has a deep squad available, with Kean travelling and expected to begin on the bench behind the in-form Douvikas.
Jean Butez should remain in goal despite the arrival of Robert Sánchez. Yan Couto is narrowly favoured over Ivan Smolčić at right-back, while Trevoh Chalobah and Jacobo Ramón are expected to continue in central defence.
Possible Starting Lineups
Genoa Possible XI
Justin Bijlow; Alessandro Marcandalli; Leo Østigård; Johan Vásquez; Mikael Ellertsson; Morten Frendrup; Djibril Sow; Mario Mitaj; Tommaso Baldanzi; Vitinha; Lorenzo Colombo
Como Possible XI
Jean Butez; Yan Couto; Jacobo Ramón; Trevoh Chalobah; Álex Valle; Luis Milla; Lucas Da Cunha; Assane Diao; Nicolás Paz; Martin Baturina; Anastasios Douvikas
Players to Watch
Tommaso Baldanzi — Genoa
Baldanzi is Genoa’s main link between midfield and attack. His ability to receive under pressure will be important against Como’s press, but Genoa need him to play closer to goal and create more for the front two.
Morten Frendrup — Genoa
Frendrup’s running and ball-winning could help Genoa disrupt Como’s passing rhythm. He also produced his team’s best late effort against Lazio and may need to make more forward runs if the attack remains isolated.
Anastasios Douvikas — Como
Douvikas has opened the season with two goals in two Serie A appearances. He scored on Como’s previous visit to the Ferraris and should test Østigård with his movement across the penalty area.
Assane Diao — Como
Diao assisted Baturina at Napoli and scored in the 2-0 win at Genoa in April. His speed can cause problems when Como beat the first line of pressure and attack the space beside Genoa’s outside centre-backs.
Head-to-Head
Como are unbeaten in the last four Serie A meetings, recording two wins and two draws. The most recent encounter ended in a 2-0 Como victory at the Ferraris on 26 April 2026, with Douvikas and Diao scoring.
Como also won 1-0 at home in April 2025, while the other two meetings ended 1-1. None of those four matches produced Over 2.5 Goals, and Genoa scored only twice across the sequence.
Final Verdict
Como are playing with more confidence, carry a wider range of attacking threats and have already shown that they can handle demanding away fixtures. The combination of Douvikas, Paz, Diao and Baturina should ask more questions of Genoa than Napoli or Lazio faced from De Rossi’s attack.
Genoa’s best chance is to press aggressively, keep the score level and use the home crowd to make the contest uncomfortable. However, their lack of shots and goals remains a major concern, while changes at wing-back add another test against Como’s mobile wide players.
The upcoming Champions League match is the main reason for caution, but Como’s depth and current away form make Como to Win at 1.95 the preferred selection. I expect a controlled away performance and a Genoa 0-2 Como correct-score prediction.
FreeOddsTips Prediction
Como look better equipped to control possession and create the clearer chances. Genoa may keep the match tight during the early stages, but the away side’s attacking options should eventually make the difference.
Best Bet: Como to Win
Odds: 1.95
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Correct Score: Genoa 0-2 Como
