Genoa's Three-Match Run Meets Milan's Derby High as De Rossi and Amorim Name Starting XIs

Genoa and Milan have confirmed their starting lineups for Sunday's Serie A fixture at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris, with Daniele De Rossi and Ruben Amorim each naming full-strength sides for a match that pits Genoa's three-match winning run against a Milan team fresh from a derby triumph.

Genoa's revival under De Rossi has been one of the more striking turns of the Serie A season. A 2-1 win over Lecce last time out made it three consecutive victories, pulling the club clear of the early-season trouble that had defined the opening weeks. Now comes the test: an in-form Milan side that arrives at the Ferraris having beaten its city rival and looking to keep pace at the top.

De Rossi has set Genoa up in a 3-5-2. Three centre-backs sit behind a five-man midfield, with two forwards ahead of them. The shape gives Genoa width through the wing-backs and a compact central block when out of possession. Against Milan's 3-4-2-1, that midfield five will be asked to squeeze the space between the lines, where Milan's two attacking midfielders typically operate.

The onus falls on Genoa's midfield to screen the back three and prevent Milan's inside forwards from receiving between the lines. Alessandro Marcandalli, Alphadjo Cissè and Diego Moreira are among the players tasked with making that block function. Their ability to hold position, win second balls and resist Milan's press will determine whether Genoa can turn this into a low-scoring, attritional game — the kind that has suited them during this run.

Amorim has named a 3-4-2-1. Three centre-backs, a four-man midfield and two attacking midfielders behind a single striker. It is a shape designed to overload central areas and create chances through the half-spaces. Christian Pulisic is the obvious reference point in that attacking line, and Adrien Rabiot's presence in midfield gives Milan a physical and technical anchor to control tempo.

The question for Milan is whether they can break down a Genoa side that has learned to defend deep and counter with purpose. Milan's derby win will have boosted confidence, but the Ferraris is a different test: a hostile away ground, a compact opponent and a team riding momentum. Amorim's selection suggests he wants control rather than chaos — Rabiot and Pulisic are both starters, and the shape points to patient build-up rather than direct play.

Both managers have gone with their preferred shapes. De Rossi's 3-5-2 is a clear statement: Genoa will defend in numbers, use the wing-backs to spring forward and rely on the front two to hold the ball when it arrives. Amorim's 3-4-2-1 is a response that prioritises central overloads and technical quality in the final third.

The key individual battles will be in midfield. If Genoa's five can match Milan's four centrally, the home side can frustrate and counter. If Milan's two attacking midfielders find pockets between Genoa's midfield and defence, the away side will create chances. Pulisic's movement and Rabiot's distribution are the two most likely sources of Milan's breakthrough.

For Genoa, the task is simpler: keep the game tight, take the moments when they come and extend a run that has already changed the mood around the club. For Milan, it is about proving that the derby win was a platform, not a peak. Kick-off at the Luigi Ferraris is next.