Genoa vs Bologna

Stadio Luigi Ferraris sets the stage for Genoa’s last 2023/24 Serie A fixture as they meet surprise package Bologna in the season finale. 

Last weekend’s narrow 1-0 defeat at Roma means this game is a dead rubber for Genoa, as they can’t secure a top-half finish no matter the result. However, a win would see them grab a respectable 11th place and, in turn, their highest Serie A ranking since the 2014/15 campaign, when they incidentally lost both league meetings with Bologna. No such thing is on the cards now after Genoa eked out a 1-1 draw in January’s reverse fixture, maintaining their outstanding H2H run to just one defeat from their last nine league encounters against ‘I Rossoblu’ (W4, D4). On top of that, Alberto Gilardino’s side could close the season on a high after winning back-to-back home league outings to ensure a chance of making it three on the trot for the first time in 2023/24.

On the other hand, Bologna looked destined to humble Juventus in their first game after Massimiliano Allegri’s dismissal, only to waste a three-goal cushion in a goal-glutted 3-3 home draw earlier this week. Despite throwing away a hefty advantage, the visitors come into the season finale relieved of pressure after securing Champions League football for the first time since 1964. A thick of their sterling Serie A campaign is the division’s second-best home record behind Inter, but Thiago Motta’s men have excelled on the road, going unbeaten on their last eight league travels (W5, D3). Four of their five most recent away matches in Serie A have seen them keep a clean sheet, which was the case in their latest top-flight visit to Genoa (1-0).