Starting with the hosts, extending on their Coppa Italia adventure earlier in the week as they cruised their way to a routine 3-1 victory at home against Empoli, Genoa will be desperate to use that performance as a platform to build on. However, spending large spells of last season looking over their shoulder at a looming relegation scrap, Patrick Vieira's men have once again failed to find any kind of fluidity since opening up the 2025/26 campaign. Last seen falling to a 2-1 defeat away at Bologna, the former Crystal Palace boss has not seen his squad muster a single win from their first four Serie A appearances (two defeats, two draws).
Sarri's second spell at the Olimpico has already proven difficult. Limited by a summer transfer embargo, his team has taken just one win from three league outings, falling to Como on the opening day and Sassuolo last week, despite putting four past Hellas Verona in between. Pressure is mounting on a squad that has claimed victory in only two of their last 13 home fixtures, though they remain unbeaten in eight straight 'home' derbies - a club record now under serious threat.