Final result: Genoa-Napoli 1-2
GENOA (edited by Andrea Carlino)
Faithful 6 – His performance between the posts is overall sufficient, despite the two goals conceded which he can do very little about. In the first half he stood out for some confident outings and for his good handling of the ball with his feet, giving security to the defensive unit. In the second half he was ready on the rare occasions when he was called into action.
Sabelli 5.5 – His right wing becomes a conquering ground for the incursions of Neres and Olivera who constantly put him in difficulty. He struggles to present himself in the offensive phase and makes several errors in the setup phase. The warning in the second half is the snapshot of a complicated evening. Dal 78′ Norton-Cuffy 6 – Enters with the right attitude, guaranteeing greater defensive solidity in the tense final.
Bani 6,5 – Performance of substance and personality from the rossoblù central defender who does not disappoint in the physical comparison with Lukaku. Valuable in his preventive readings and punctual in his closings, he stands out for some providential interventions, such as the one at the end on Simeone launched into the net. Silent leader of the rearguard, he keeps his concentration high even in moments of greatest opposition pressure.
Vasquez 6 – The Mexican central defender offers a careful and disciplined performance, being appreciated for his sense of position and cleanliness in his interventions. Some errors in the setup phase do not affect an overall positive performance, where its ability to read dangerous situations in advance emerges. Good understanding with Bani in the defensive diagonals.
Martin 5,5 – Politano's accelerations systematically put him in crisis, forcing him into a purely defensive and often laborious performance. He struggled to find countermeasures against the blue winger who continuously targeted him, causing him quite a few problems. In the offensive phase we see very little, limiting ourselves to rare ineffective sorties. A complicated evening that highlights his marking limitations
Frendrup 6 – His game is a crescendo: after a struggling first half, crushed by the supremacy of the Neapolitan midfield, he finds greater confidence in the second half when Genoa raises their center of gravity. He stands out for a nice central progression which earns him a free kick from the edge of the box, but the warning at the end also shows some moments of nervousness. However, his dynamism is invaluable in the balance of the rossoblù midfield.
Thistle 6 – The Croatian playmaker confirms himself as an important point of reference for Genoa's maneuver, managing the team's pace with experience. His direction is invaluable in letting the team breathe in moments of greatest pressure, even if he could dare something more during the construction phase. He leaves tired but having given his substantial contribution. Dal 70' Thorsby 6 – His entry brings greater physicality to the Genoa midfield in the final forcing.
Miretti 5.5 – The young midfielder is unable to have the impact he did on his best days, often appearing shy and imprecise in his plays. Too light in his tackles and not very incisive in his insertions, he is unable to adequately support the offensive manoeuvre. A performance that still highlights significant margins for growth. From 83' Balotelli 6.5 – Definitely positive impact on the match: in a few minutes he was the protagonist of two insidious conclusions that only a super Meret managed to neutralize. His presence in the area always creates apprehension in the Azzurri defense.
Zanoli 6 – A two-faced performance for the right winger: in the first half he was appreciated for some good initiatives, such as the perfect cross not exploited by Vitinha. In the second half he suffered a clear decline which led him to make a few too many inaccuracies. However, his push on the wing is an important weapon in the economy of the rossoblù game.
Pinamonti 7 – The best of the rossoblù for continuity and danger. He fights like a lion for every ball, making his physique count in duels with the Azzurri centre-backs. The goal that reopens the match is the right reward for a generous performance, also enhanced by a curling conclusion that only a great intervention from Meret denies the joy of the double.
Vitinha 5.5 – Definitely subpar performance from the Portuguese striker who never manages to get into the heart of the game. The wasted opportunity in the first half, when he stalled too long in the area allowing Rrahmani to recover, illustrates an evening where everything seems to be going wrong. He partially redeems himself with the assist to Pinamonti, but, honestly, it's too little. Song 70' Ekuban 6 – His entry brings greater liveliness to the rossoblù attack in the final.
Patrick Vieira 6 – His Genoa team started out slow but improved in time, coming close to equalizing in the final. The team shows character and never gives up, despite paying for some defensive naivety that costs dearly. The reaction in the second half is the positive signal from which to start again.
NAPOLI
Meret 7.5 – First half almost as a non-paying spectator, in the second half the music changes and he is called to overtime on at least two occasions against Pinamonti. Nothing can be done about the goal of the Genoa center forward. Also very good on Balotelli on two occasions towards the end of the match. Man of the match for the Azzurri.
By Lorenzo 6 – He reached the milestone of 250 appearances for the Azzurri with a more than positive performance in the first half when he accompanied the action and duetted with Politano. In the second half he remained lower to limit Vitinha's attacks which caused him some problems.
Juan Jesus 5,5 – The most troubled in the second half against a Pinamonti who came close to scoring several times, even managing to score one. Luckily for him, Meret is there to patch things up. He makes Buongiorno missed in the middle of the defense.
Rrahman 6.5 – More solid than his teammate, he also suffers less when Pinamonti gravitates to his area. Furthermore, he scores a goal that is perhaps not beautiful, but very heavy in the economy of the match.
Olivera 6 – The former Zanoli is one of the most positive in Genoa's ranks and often dives down the wing to cross, but the Uruguayan keeps good guard and gives him the bare minimum. For the rest he always finds a way to lend a hand in the offensive phase.
McTominay 6 – The most obscure of the midfield trio although he would score a goal, which was later disallowed due to Politano's offside.
Lobotka 6 – He provides the assist for Rrahmani's second goal with a free kick of his own. For the rest he manages the Azzurri's game with the usual quality, without forgetting the breaking tasks.
Anguissa 6.5 – Scores the goal that unlocks the match with an excellent insertion into the penalty area. In the first half he was the most proactive in the blue midfield, sewing up the game with his strikers. He runs the counter in the middle of the field to snatch balls and start again. In the second half he played more defensively, helping his team defend their lead.
Politano 6 – Well in the first half when he is a constant thorn in the side of Genoa's rearguard. In the second half, like all of Napoli, they dropped and were unable to create any major dangers, even sacrificing a lot in the covering phase. From 86' Spinazzola Sv – Comes in late to help out in defense.
Lukaku 5.5 – Pronti via has two great opportunities to score from inside the area, but first he hits the crossbar and then turns the ball wide. He fights forward to try to open spaces, but struggles to become dangerous and seems to lack the burst of his best times. From the 72nd minute Simeone 5.5 Some ideas at the end, but little incisiveness in the last 30 metres, also because the team is suffering and is paying more attention to defending itself.
David Neres 6.5 – He doesn't make us regret the Georgian by showing good ideas and providing an assist for the goal that unlocks the match. He also sacrifices a lot by chasing his opponents to lend a hand to his teammates in the defensive phase. Dal 72' Kvaratskhelia 6 – Despite the noticeable bandage on his knee, he shows that the worst is behind him. Usual accelerations that leave no escape for their markers who must always chase the Georgian or commit fouls. It's a shame for the final error that could have ended the match definitively.
Antonio Conte 6 – In the first half his team controls the field and seems to have no problems sinking shots. In the second half there was a metamorphosis with the team struggling to build and suffering tremendously, ending up rich in front of a Meret who deserves the man of the match award. He wins, but he can't be entirely happy.
