Opposition insight for Milan-Genoa: Form, injuries, predicted XI and more

AC Milan return to San Siro for Serie A action tomorrow night, as Massimiliano Allegri’s team welcomes Genoa. It is a must-win game, and there should be no bumps in the road. 

After their 1-0 win against Cagliari, Milan are beginning to turn the tide when it comes to their reputation against lower sides this season. However, they cannot let that come undone at home – which has been the host to most of their struggles so far.

Below, we take a look at everything you need to know before Genoa arrive tomorrow evening.

Genoa in 2025-26

➤ Manager: Daniele De Rossi
➤ Form (all comps): D-L-L-L-W
➤ Top scorer (Serie A): Leo Ostigard and Lorenzo Colombo – 3
➤ Most assists (Serie A): Aaron Martin – 3
➤ Injuries & suspensions: Onana.

Genoa’s summer window has, in many ways, probably sewn the seeds for what has been a difficult start to the season. After selling €52m worth of players, according to Transfermarkt, they did not spend a single penny on permanent transfers to bolster the squad available to the then-coach Patrick Vieira.

Koni De Winter was the most expensive sale as he went to Milan for €20m. Teenage defender Honest Ahanor headed to Atalanta for €17m, then Albert Gudmundsson completed his permanent Fiorentina switch for €13m.

The incomings were not particularly inspiring. A €500k loan fee was paid to get Jean Onana from Bestikas, while Valentin Carboni (Inter), Maxwell Cornet (West Ham), Lorenzo Colombo (Milan), Albert Gronbaek and Leo Ostigard (both Stade Rennais) also arrived on loan.

Genoa ended up sacking Vieira in early November due to a winless start to the Serie A season. He left them bottom of the table with De Rossi taking over as manager shortly after. A win over Sassuolo on November 3 got the ball rolling for the Roma icon.

Victories over Hellas Verona later in the month and Udinese early in December (both 2-1) saw them climb out of the bottom three. The Rossoblu haven’t won since that game on December 8, but have had a tough run of fixtures against the likes of Inter, Atalanta and Roma.

Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images

There is quite a long list of injury doubts for De Rossi to deal with. Siegrist, Messias, Gronbaek, Cornet and Ekuban are all down as ‘to be evaluated’ in view of the trip to Milan. Onana, meanwhile, will definitely be out due to his African Cup of Nations commitments.

It seems that it will be a game of very few changes for De Rossi, despite the Rossoblu’s underwhelming draw against Pisa at the weekend. Leali, then, will remain in goal, whilst Ostigard and Vasquez also keep their places. However, Marcandalli is expected to step in, in place of the imposing Otoa.

Things also remain almost the same in midfield, with Norton-Cuffy and Martin keeping their places on the wings. Malinovskyi and former Rossoneri target Morten Frendrup will stick in midfield, whilst Ellertsson is expected to return to the starting XI.

Leading the line, there are no changes expected. So, Vitinha will partner with Colombo, who will hope to perform against his old club once again.

Predicted Genoa XI (3-5-2): Leali; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Vasquez; Norton-Cuffy, Malinovskyi, Frendrup, Ellertsson, Martin; Vitinha, Colombo.

Predicted bench: Sommariva, Lysionok, Carboni, Fini, Stanciu, Masini, Venturino, Ekhator, Sabelli, Otoa, Cuenca, Thorsby.