Il Napoli wins again and (at least momentarily) returns to the top of the rankings confirming extraordinary numbers, but what is causing discussion is the second half and the incredible performance gap between the two fractions. Conte's team – furious in the post-match – literally dominated the first 45 minutes, playing perhaps the best first half of the season, taking the double lead with Anguissa and Rrahmani (on an assist from Neres and an inactive ball provided by the Brazilian, who was once again uncatchable) and also risking spreading against a Genoa crushed and tossed around by the excellent phrasing of the Neapolitans. Game closed, at least apparently, the mistake probably also made by Napoli at half-time. And in the second half, however, the script almost reverses, Genoa raises their center of gravity and pressure without having much to lose and only a great Meret avoids a terrible mockery: Napoli gets the 2-1 scored by Pinamonti, suffers for most of the second half and only the Italian goalkeeper's super day, first on Pinamonti and then on Ekuban's deflection in injury time, allowed the group to have a peaceful Christmas.
Conte gets furious
The victory does not calm the nervousness of the Napoli coach who in the press conference expresses all his disappointment for the second half, after having addressed it directly to the team in the locker room: “It was perhaps the best first half since I've been here. game, the warning was not to let them back into the game and instead the second half was passive. We conceded a shot after a minute and then the goal reignited the stadium. We have to defend by attacking and not becoming passive and being scared of I don't know what “. And again: “The second half disappointed me and I think the boys too. It's not part of my mentality to pull the plug like that. I'm angry, the boys know it.”
Meret takes the stage
The surprise protagonist, therefore, after a first half that closed with a double advantage and total domination, in the end is Alex Meret. Often at the center of criticism from parts of the square, the Napoli goalkeeper is close to renewing his contract and this season he has saved the Azzurri several times, starting from the penalties against Modena in the Italian Cup, passing through the match against Parma, those from Cagliari and Milan on the Rossoneri side until reaching Marassi. Captain Di Lorenzo also spoke about it in the post: “We within the team group have never doubted his qualities, they are things that come from the outside. We have always had faith in him, he is an exceptional goalkeeper and yes he deserves these satisfactions. He made four or five important interventions, we enjoy it.”
