AC MILAN v GENOA: OPPONENT REVIEW

Having secured qualification for the next edition of the Champions League, AC Milan aim to continue its journey in the league and secure second place in Serie A. Facing them are Genoa, who, thanks to a 3-0 win against Cagliari, have already achieved their objective of avoiding relegation. Alberto Gilardino, a former AC Milan player with whom he made 94 appearances and scored 36 goals in Serie A from 2005/06 to 2007/08, has transformed the Ligurians since his arrival in December 2022, giving them a strong identity, managing to earn 42 points with Genoa in 34 matches this season (10W, 12D, 12L). The last Serie A season in which Genoa obtained more points dates back to 2015/16, with 46 points.

TACKLES AND DUELS: THE GRIFONE'S SOLIDITY
Among the most important aspects of the Grifone's solidity, tackles and duels certainly stand out. They are a hungry and gritty team, with a dynamic and tough midfield. Genoa is both the team that has recorded the most tackles (570) and the one that has intercepted the most balls (304) in the Serie A 2023/24 season. The Ligurians have won a total of 564 aerial duels in the current championship (an average of 17 per game), second only to Hellas Verona (682 – averaging 20 per game). Genoa is not only a team that defends and counterattacks, but also one that tries to surprise opponents with shots from outside the box. Indeed, Genoa has scored eight goals from long-range in this campaign. Only Atalanta, Monza and Hellas Verona have scored more. The Rossoneri will need to pay particular attention to this aspect of play, as they have conceded 10 goals from outside the box, a negative record in the current season.

GUÐMUNDSSON'S QUALITY AND FRENDRUP'S DYNAMISM
Albert Guðmundsson is the cover star of Genoa's season. After a period of settling in following his arrival in January 2022, he has become the idol of Genoa fans and the driving force, with goals and assists for Gilardino's team. The Rossoblù's number 11 has a special connection with a figure linked to the colours of AC Milan in the past. His great-grandfather, also named Albert Guðmundsson, was the first Icelander to score in Serie A (two goals in the 1948/49 season), wearing the AC Milan jersey. The Ligurian striker has extraordinary numbers this season, primarily for his 14 goals scored. Only five foreigners have done better in a single Serie A season in Genoa's history: Rodrigo Palacio (19 in 2011/12), Diego Milito (24 in 2008/09), Tomáš Skuhravý (15 in 1990/91), Carlos Aguilera (15 in 1990/91), and Juan Esposito (15 in 1932/33).

Among the players from the newly promoted teams in the top five European leagues, no one has scored as many as him. Among the other breakout players of Genoa, Morten Frendrup deserves a mention. Born on 7 April 2001, he is the youngest midfielder to have provided at least five assists in this Serie A season. Considering all positions, only Cagliari's Luvumbo (born in March 2002) is younger than him. Now an essential piece on Gilardino's chessboard, the Danish midfielder is both the player with the most tackles in this campaign (128, at least 50 more than any other) and the midfielder with the most duels won in the Serie A 2023/24 (203).

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