Genoa vs Sampdoria Predictions

• Genoa are winless in 13 league games. Since Andriy Shevchenko became manager, they’ve failed to score a single goal and lost three of four matches, albeit against tough opponents.
• Sampdoria have only won three of their last 13 games, and have actually created fewer expected goals than their goal-shy rivals.
• Both of last season’s derby fixtures ended as 1-1 draws.

Crucial Derby della Lanterna Awaits

Genoa vs Sampdoria is considered the oldest local derby in Italian football, and Friday night’s instalment will be of huge significance. Genoa have lost three of four games under Andriy Shevchenko without scoring a single goal, and remain mired in the relegation zone.

15th-placed Sampdoria have followed up their first back-to-back wins of the campaign with successive 3-1 losses to Fiorentina and Lazio. Unlike Genoa, Sampdoria’s problem is not finding the net, but keeping the goals out; they have scored in their last five matches, and in 10 of their last 11. Their record of 32 conceded is worse than all but two teams in Serie A, however, and they’ve kept one clean sheet in their last 12 games.

Despite their woeful recent record in front of goal, Genoa have a slightly better expected goals tally than their rivals this campaign, and the fixture list has not exactly been kind to their new boss. Their last four have seen them face Roma, AC Milan, and Juventus, as well as travelling to miserly Udinese for a 0-0 draw.

Rivals’ Six-Pointer Too Close to Call?

With Genoa now winless in 13 Serie A games, things are beginning to get desperate. Rivals Sampdoria are five points clear of trouble and a draw would suit them better than it would Genoa. A 1-1 draw, the result in both of last season’s derby meetings, seems a strong correct score prediction for what could be a tight and nervous affair.

With Genoa desperately short of goals, combining the draw with under 3.5 match goals could be a good value punt for a local derby between two relegation-threatened teams, who have a combined three wins in their last 25 outings.

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