Genoa and Udinese Clash for Mid-Table Dominance in Serie A

GENOA, ITALY — Genoa and Udinese will face off on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 7:45 PM local time at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris in a crucial Serie A clash. With both teams vying for a top-half finish, tensions are high after disappointing recent performances.

Genoa, positioned 12th in the table, enters the match trailing Udinese by five points. After a narrow 1-0 loss to Juventus last week, the Grifone aim to bounce back at home, where they have been formidable this season, winning four of five matches in 2025 and averaging 2.60 points per game. Genoa coach Patrick Vieira‘s side, unbeaten in their last six encounters against Udinese, will look to replicate their previous 2-0 victory over them in December to close the gap.

“We’ve been strong at home,” Vieira stated. “Winning against Udinese is crucial as we want to close in on the teams above us.”

On the other side, Udinese is coming off two consecutive defeats, including a tough matchup against Inter Milan that saw them down 2-0 before a late goal provided some solace. The Friulani have struggled on the road, with their last away victory dating to 2017.

“We need to regroup and focus on the next match,” Udinese coach Andrea Sottil emphasized. “There are no easy games in Serie A, and we must find our form again to secure our safety.”

Despite their recent struggles, Udinese remains a competitive side, with key contributions from new signings. French center-back Abdoul Fofana has made an immediate impact since joining in January, leading Serie A defenders with 19 completed dribbles.

Both teams will have significant personnel changes ahead of the fixture. Genoa can welcome back key players from injury and suspension, while Udinese faces challenges with several absentees, including strikers Felix Okugawa and Beto due to injuries.

Genoa’s likely starting XI features goalkeeper Leali backed by a four-man defense and a midfield tasked with creating scoring chances for forward Andrea Pinamonti. Conversely, Udinese will aim to utilize a solid 3-5-1-1 structure to stifle Genoa’s attacks while looking for opportunities to counter.

As both teams strive to establish dominance in the mid-table, the stakes are mighty in this Serie A clash. With a history of closely contested matches — the previous ten encounters at Stadio Luigi Ferraris have seen each team secure two wins and a total of six draws — fans can expect an intense battle this Friday evening.