Everything was easy for Napoli in the first half at Marassi. Conte's team controlled the game throughout the first half, scoring twice in the first half hour.
Napoli's first chance, or rather the first chances, came after five minutes with Lukaku who first headed from close range to hit the crossbar and then turned another cross from Politano from the right wide from inside the small area. Genoa's response arrives in the tenth with Zanoli who crosses to the far post for Vitinha who, however, extends the ball too much and is closed by the Neapolitan defense. The visitors' pressure paid off in the 22nd minute when another header, this time from central Rrahmani following a cross from Lobotka, beat Leali with a slow, mocking trajectory. Genoa tries to respond first with Pinamonti on a free kick and then with Badelj from the edge, but their conclusions miss Meret's goal.
However, as soon as Napoli accelerates it hurts the rossoblù rearguard with Di Lorenzo who triggers Politano in depth, the attacking winger crosses into the middle for McTominay who beats Leali. The goal, however, was annulled due to offside by the number 21. Genoa practically no longer reacted and only took care to defend themselves more often than not with all their men well inside their own half of the pitch, unable to create problems even in the very rare restarts on the outside.
