Coppa Italia 2025-2026: Genoa-Empoli, the likely lineups

The Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa is the stage for the first of two Coppa Italia matches scheduled for Thursday, the round of 16 between hosts Genoa and Empoli’Empoli. A challenge seen in Serie A for the past two seasons and instead only possible this year in the domestic cup, as the Tuscans have meanwhile dropped to Serie B.

The knockout competition offers both coaches the opportunity to give minutes to some of their respective lesser-used players: in Genoa, Patrick Vieira is nevertheless going towards the confirmation, compared to the recent championship game lost in Bologna, of center forward Colombo and trequartista Malinovskiy, who will be joined by Gronbaek instead of Vitinha.

On the other side the coach of Empoli, Guido Pagliuca, wants to forget the heavy 4-0 loss in Pescara with an almost completely different lineup, which should see the confirmation of only Ceesay, Ghion and Ignacchiti. In front will be Konate, supported by trequartists Moruzzi and Ilie. Three-man defense with Obaretin, Guarino and Tosto.

Probable lineups

GENOA (4-2-3-1): Siegrist; Sabelli, Marcandalli, Vasquez, Martin; Stanciu, Pasini; Carboni, Malinovskyi, Gronbaek; Colombo. All. Vieira.

EMPOLI (3-4-2-1): Perisan; Obaretin, Guarino, Tosto; Ceesay, Yepes, Ghion, Ignacchiti; Moruzzi, Ilie; Konate. Coach: Pagliuca.