Matchday 10 of the Italian Serie A wraps up on Thursday with three matches. At 18:30, struggling Genoa will host Fiorentina, with new signing Mario Balotelli unlikely to play. The other two matches kick off at 20:45, with Roma, fresh off a 5-1 defeat to Fiorentina, facing Torino, while Lazio travels to Como after their recent 3-0 win against Genoa.
Genoa vs Fiorentina
Genoa, struggling with just one point from five matches, will look to turn their fortunes around against in-form Fiorentina on Thursday. The Viola arrive at Marassi on a five-game winning streak, having scored 19 goals. Genoa, now third from bottom after a 3-0 loss to Lazio, has only seven goals this season, far below expectations.
To boost their attack, Genoa signed striker Mario Balotelli, returning to Serie A after four years, but he is unlikely to play due to match fitness issues. Historically, Genoa has fared poorly against Fiorentina, winning just once in their last 13 meetings.
Fiorentina has been in strong form, winning twice in the Conference League and earning 13 points from their last 15 in the league. After a 5-1 victory over Roma, they sit just two points behind second-placed Inter Milan. Coach Raffaele Palladino has made tactical changes that have paid off, with the team losing only once in their last six away matches.
Genoa is facing an injury crisis, with key players like goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and others sidelined. Despite Balotelli’s absence, Andrea Pinamonti will lead the attack, having scored three goals against Fiorentina in Serie A. Fiorentina will also be missing several injured players, and with a busy schedule ahead, they may make lineup changes.
Roma vs Torino
Roma will face Torino on Thursday night at Stadio Olimpico, having decided to keep head coach Ivan Juric despite recent struggles. Following a heavy 5-1 loss to Fiorentina, Roma has fallen into the bottom half of the Serie A standings, raising questions about Juric’s future.
After starting October poorly with a loss to Elfsborg and a draw with Monza, Roma is eager to avoid a third consecutive league defeat, something they haven’t done since 2020. Although top scorer Artem Dovbyk is finding his form, the team averages just one goal per game, sitting 14th in the league.
Historically, Roma has a strong record against Torino at home, winning 12 of their last 14 encounters and remaining unbeaten in six matches against them. Torino, under new coach Paolo Vanoli, has had a mixed start, recently bouncing back from three consecutive defeats with a 1-0 win over Como.
Roma will be missing Alexis Saelemaekers and suspended Mario Hermoso, though Stephan El Shaarawy may return. Juric could make changes after the recent loss, while Dovbyk is expected to lead the attack. Torino will again be without Ivan Ilic, Borna Sosa, and captain Duvan Zapata, with Karol Linetty likely to captain the side in his absence.
Como vs Lazio
After securing back-to-back victories, Lazio will visit Como on Thursday evening, looking to end October on a high note. The Biancocelesti have won four of their five matches this month, while Como has faced a decline in form.
Lazio recently celebrated a Europa League win against Twente and a strong performance against Genoa, where Dutch striker Tijjani Noslin scored the opener. The team extended its unbeaten home streak in Serie A to 10 matches, showcasing a strong overall performance.
Como, promoted last season, has collected nine points so far, five more than during their last Serie A stint. However, they’ve lost two of their last three matches, including a recent 1-0 defeat to Torino. Cesc Fabregas will hope to leverage Como’s unbeaten home record this season as they aim for survival, though they still seek their first clean sheet.
Lazio welcomes back defensive leader Alessio Romagnoli from suspension, while only right-back Manuel Lazzari is sidelined with injury. Marco Baroni has options to rotate his squad, especially with Nuno Tavares excelling with seven assists this season.
Como is expected to rely on Alieu Fadera, Gabriel Strefezza, Nico Paz, and top scorer Patrick Cutrone in attack, while they may adjust midfield due to injuries. Ignace Van der Brempt is also ruled out.
