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Rudi Garcia could manage Roma for the last time, as the struggling Giallorossi take on another out of form side, Genoa, in the 17th round of the Serie A.
Roma has not won in 7 matches in all competitions, scored a grand total of 1 goal in the last 5 and was knocked out by Spezia in the Coppa Italia this week – at home! There are talks that the players want Rudi Garcia gone. Honestly, after what happened with Mourinho and Chelsea, but also looking how passive and bored Roma’s players look on the pitch, I would not be surprised. There seems to be a general consensus that this is it for Garcia and I agree. He’s a great manager, he did spectacular things in his first season, was mediocre in his second, but this year he really blew it.
With so much investments, a great team, with Juventus struggling early, it was a golden chance for Roma to win the Scudetto after such a long time – but Roma is only 5th in the table and the title will most likely remain a dream. The atmosphere is poor, the team seemed to have reached a ceiling with Garcia, unable to get over the hump. In these circumstances it’s really hard to see Roma coming into this match with an aggressive, positive attitude and desire.
Genoa is not doing much better at all. The visitors (who have a statline of 0-3-5 away from home) are 17th in the table, losing 3 consecutive matches in the Serie A. To top it off, Genoa was defeated at home by Alessandria in the Coppa Italia midweek, 1-2 in extra time. The only positive that can be taken is that Genoa lost all these 4 games by 1 goal and was indeed a little unlucky, surely deserving more than 4 losses.
Bet now on AS Roma vs. Genoa with the highest Italian Serie A odds at 1xbet.com.
Team news & lineups:
Totti continues to miss out for Roma, with Torosidis and Strootman also out. Genoa won’t be able to count on Perotti, Pavoletti, Burdisso, Dzemaili and Marchese.
Roma: Szczesny – Florenzi, Rudiger, Manolas, Digne – Nainggolan, De Rossi, Pjanic – Falque, Dzeko, Salah
Genoa: Perin – Figueiras, Izzo, Maio, Ansaldi – Rincon, Costa, Tachtsidis – Lazovic, Gakpe, Laxalt
Genoa is dirt poor right now as far as results go, but on the bright side they are at least able to play close games. Also, the visitors have strangely been very effective against top teams this season – beating Milan 1-0 at home, holding for a draw in Napoli and only losing by 1 goal against Fiorentina and Inter – both away. The match against Inter was just two weeks ago, so it’s a good reference point.
With Genoa playing well against top sides and rarely losing by more than 1 goal, it’s hard to see Roma covering a handicap here. The hosts, with their slow possession style, barely scored once in the last 5 games and that was from a free kick by Pjanic. Roma will hope that getting a couple of players back from injury will help (Gervinho, Salah), particularly as Genoa is struggling a bit with suspensions. But in poor form and unlikely to come in with a positive attitude, Roma seem destined to be involved in another dogfight.
This might well be the end for Rudi Garcia. My tip is Genoa to cover the +1,5 handicap. Prediction: AS Roma – Genoa 1-1.
Pick: Genoa +1,5
Odds: 1.62 @ 1xBet
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 4.96
Event date: 20 December
