Roma vs Genoa

Stadio Olimpico is the venue as Serie A top-four hopefuls Roma and Serie B promotion bidders Genoa go head-to-head in an exciting Coppa Italia last-16 tie.

Roma hauled back a 2-0 deficit to hold defending Serie A champions AC Milan to a dramatic 2-2 draw at the weekend, bolstering their spirits ahead of Jose Mourinho’s return to the dugout. The Portuguese manager served a two-game ban against Milan and Bologna (1-0) and will be on the touchline to inspire Roma’s comeback following a dreadful run of one win from their last five domestic outings (D3, L1). Playing at the Stadio Olimpico may not necessarily aid the hosts’ cause, considering they’ve blown hot and cold across their five most recent home games in all competitions (W2, D1, L2). However, Genoa should be no match for ‘I Giallorossi,’ who had been victorious in 14 of their last 16 home H2Hs (D2).

In the meantime, Genoa’s hopes of securing a swift return to Serie A following a fateful 2021/22 top-flight relegation season are back on track after they’ve gone unbeaten in their last four Serie B fixtures (W3, D1). ‘I Rossoblu’ trail second-placed Reggina by three points at the halfway point of the season and are very much in the running for promotion. Alberto Gilardino’s side navigated the previous Coppa Italia round, courtesy of a narrow 1-0 home triumph over SPAL, which is in line with their propensity for tight, evenly-contested affairs. Indeed, Genoa’s last six competitive away games have featured a full-time margin of under 1.5 goals (W3, D1, L2), with four of those five matches (won/lost) yielding an identical 2-1 scoreline.