Serie A concludes its 2025 calendar tonight, Monday, December 29, with a high-stakes clash at the Stadio Olimpico. AS Roma, currently sitting 5th in the table, look to break into the top four with a victory over a struggling Genoa side that is hovering just above the relegation zone.
Match Details
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT / 20:45 CET (14:45 ET)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee: Marco Di Bello
Broadcast: DAZN (Italy/UK) / Paramount+ (US)
Current Form: Inconsistency vs. Survival Mode
AS Roma: Chasing the Champions League
Roma has had a rollercoaster December. After a statement win against Como, they suffered a narrow 2–1 loss to Juventus last week. Despite the inconsistency, the Giallorossi have been formidable at home, winning four of their last five matches at the Olimpico. A win tonight could potentially move them as high as 3rd place, depending on other results.
Genoa: The Relegation Scrap
Genoa arrives in the capital following two consecutive defeats against Inter Milan and Atalanta. While they showed grit in a 3–3 draw with Cagliari earlier this month, their defense has been porous, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last ten matches. They currently sit 17th, just two points clear of the drop zone.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
AS Roma Team News
Roma's squad is stretched thin by both the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and a late injury to captain Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Out: Evan Ndicka (AFCON), Neil El Aynaoui (AFCON), Artem Dovbyk (Hip), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Hamstring), Edoardo Bove (Heart Condition).
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Svilar; Mancini, Ziółkowski, Hermoso; Çelik, Cristante, Koné, Wesley; Soulé, Baldanzi; Dybala.
Genoa Team News
The "Griffin" will be without their first-choice goalkeeper following a red card in their last outing.
Out: Nicola Leali (Suspended), Junior Messias (Muscle), Morten Thorsby (Muscle), Jean Onana (AFCON).
Return: Morten Frendrup is expected to start after being managed through a minor knock.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Sommariva; Marcandalli, Otoa, Vásquez; Norton-Cuffy, Frendrup, Malinovskyi, Ellertsson, Martin; Vitinha, Colombo.
Head-to-Head: A Dominant History
Roma has historically treated this fixture as a reliable source of points, especially when playing in front of their home fans.
Last 18 Home Meetings: Roma has won 16.
Last Meeting: Roma 3–1 Genoa (January 2025).
Trend: Genoa has not won at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A since 1990.
Tactical Analysis: The "False Nine" Experiment
With Artem Dovbyk sidelined, Roma is expected to deploy Paulo Dybala as a "False Nine." This tactical shift aims to draw Genoa’s center-backs out of position, creating space for the pace of Matìas Soulé and the late runs of Tommaso Baldanzi.
Genoa will likely counter this with a deep defensive block, relying on the height of Sebastian Otoa to deal with crosses and the vision of Ruslan Malinovskyi to launch long-range counter-attacks for the pacy Vitinha.
Match Prediction
Genoa’s defensive struggles and the absence of their starting goalkeeper make this a daunting task. While Roma is missing key leadership in Pellegrini and Ndicka, the individual brilliance of Dybala and Soulé should be enough to unlock a weary Genoa defense.
Final Score Prediction: AS Roma 2–0 Genoa
