Genoa-Napoli 1-2: goals from Anguissa and Rrahmani decide

Journalist

December 21, 2024 (changed at 8.16pm) – GENOVA

Overtaking, but what an effort. For one night again alone in command, this Napoli wins over Ferraris (1-2 final) and tries to put pressure on Atalanta, expected tomorrow from the match against Empoli: three important points despite a very difficult second half, after finishing the first half two goals ahead for Conte's team, with Genoa knocked out after six useful results in a row. It was impossible for Vieira's men (who so far had collected three draws and one victory in his management) to find an equalizer against an opponent who dominated the pitch in the first half, saved by Meret in the second half, when the Grifone changed pace and reopened with Pinamonti the match. Anguissa opens, who does an encore after Udine's goal, Rrahmani doubles. But it was the collective maneuver and the intensity of Napoli's play that forced the rossoblù to surrender in the first half. For Conte – success number 150 in the championship – a victory with great suffering, with the defense without Buongiorno who suffered a lot in the second half. For Juan Jesus a good first half, but then the team went into trouble behind it.

victory postponed

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Genoa have not won at home for 211 days now, the last day of the last championship, but this is evidently not the right evening to break the spell. Vieira introduces Vitinha as starter, lowering Miretti to the left (Thorsby outside), with Zanoli on the opposite lane. A 4-3-3 which in reality transforms at times into a 4-2-3-1 already seen against Turin and Milan, where Badelj and Frendrup act as a link between defense and midfield and Pinamonti remains the most advanced man (and isolated). Napoli starts with a very high pressure, which prevents Genoa from thinking and starting again. Anguissa pushes hard to the right and Vieira's idea of ​​keeping Zanoli and Vitinha high so as not to give too much space to Di Lorenzo and Olivera quickly founders, because the intensity of Napoli and their 4-3-3 leads to the 5th minute at the first goal-ball for Conte's men, when Politano's cross from the right gives Lukaku a golden assist which the attacker heads onto the crossbar, with the rossoblù defense unable to manage stem the Belgian. Vieira's team is unable to restart, Napoli is ferocious in its pressing and the only potential goal-scoring ball comes from a shot from Zanoli on the right, but Vitinha is blocked at the moment of hitting the net and the action fades away.

host domain

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The gap between the two teams was too large and in the 15th minute Napoli passed: descent on the right by McTominay, who found the opening for Neres, cross by the Brazilian in the center of the area where Anguissa in elevation overtook Frendrup and beat Leali. The midfielder's third league goal, validated after a VAR check, the second in a row after the one in Udine. The guest monologue continues and in the 23rd minute Rrahmani doubles the lead. Free kick from Lobotka, Rrahmani invents a lob with a winning carom, which goes past Leali. McTominay scores again, but the game was stopped due to Politano being offside. Genoa watches without being able to react to this performance by the guests, also because Pinamonti is too isolated and the rest of the team is unable to leave their own half of the pitch, crushed by Napoli's fury. Not only that: Napoli's construction from below draws Pinamonti out and one of the two wingers in turn, thus leaving the field open to Lobotka and, in turn, to McTominay and Anguissa, always creating superiority for Napoli.

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Genoa fury

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Yet Napoli's fury – 60 percent possession at half-time – ends here, because the Griffin of the second half is completely different: more defiant, organised, toned. And Napoli are surprised: one hundred seconds and Pinamonti, assisted by Martin, commits Meret. Who had to surrender in the 6th minute to a shot from the same Genoa attacker – sixth in the league – fouled by Olivera's touch which cut off Napoli's number one. But the credit here also goes to Vitinha who enters the area, bypassing Anguissa and serving his teammate. It's the best moment for the home team, Napoli reacts with difficulty, drops low, loses unpredictability, Grifone's high pressing gives effect. Bani stops Politano as he enters the area, and here Comte's team becomes too frenetic. Napoli tries to regroup, but in the 20th minute Genoa comes close to equalizing with Badelj's header: Meret is decisive. Vieira removes Badelj and Vitinha, brings in Thorsby and Ekuban. Conte responds with Kvaratskhelia and Simeone, Neres and Lukaku outside. The return of the Georgian gives breathing space to Napoli's game, which however risks a big risk in the 33rd minute due to a serious error by Anguissa, favoring Pinamonti's conclusion: Conte rages on the bench. Politano tries from outside (38'), while Vieira tries the Balotelli card, and the attacker with a carom forces Meret into a difficult deflection following an assist from Pnamonti (39'), before Ekuban's attempt (46'), which finds the Napoli goalkeeper still the protagonist. Napoli celebrate, Genoa only have regrets.