Genoa-Milan Preview: The Big One

Last week, both before and after the Juventus match, Montella said that Tuesday’s clash with Genoa would be the big test. After playing just three days earlier, being able to get a result away to Genoa would be a bigger test of our form and abilities right now. And I agree. Especially after surprising even ourselves with the win, having the guys be able to settle in, focus, and play a solid 90 minutes will tell us more about where we are heading than beating the number one team. And if they can’t, that will tell us something, too. Either way, though it is an early midweek match away to the twelfth place team, this game really is the big one.

Can we follow that performance up?

It is also a big game for Genoa. Having tasted defeat in a fiery Derby della Lanterna this weekend, they will want to use home advantage and get their team back on track. Genoa have twelve points, with three wins, three draws, and two losses as well as a game in hand that was postponed due to weather. But after Sunday’s Derby defeat, they can’t rely on that game alone to climb the table.

Speaking of the Derby, Juric lined up Perin; Burdisso, Orban, Izzo, Veloso, Rincon, Rigoni, Laxalt, Edenilson, Simeone, and Pandev. Juric is fortunate in that he has several players just coming back from injuries and should only be missing Serge Gakpe to injury for our match.

Montella has the unfortunate job of bringing everyone down to earth in time to go to the Marassi and try to prove themselves. And he’ll be doing that without Vangioni, Montolivo, Calabria, Fernandez, Bertolacci, and likely Zapata and Antonelli as well, all due to injury and fitness. It's hard to know how many starters from Saturday he'll repeat, as they'll have tired legs and he'll want to avoid more injuries.

Will they survive the Marassi?

But everyone will be tired, both teams played big games on Saturday. But Milan won, and Genoa lost, so mentality and focus will be every bit as important as physical fitness. However, playing away to the Marassi is no easy feat. I’ve called it the Haunted House before, which is even more appropriate, playing there the week before Halloween. But history and superstitions aside, it will be tough to walk away from there with a result. I know we’re all still smiling from Saturday’s result, but brace yourselves. This one is going to be the big one.

This post inspired by the music of Danny Elfman’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” Soundtrack

Genoa vs. Milan

Tuesday, October 25 • 20:45 CEST (2:45pm EDT)

This match is being shown LIVE on RAI in the U.S.