Napoli beats Genoa and returns to the lead: Conte says thanks to Meret
Napoli beats Genoa and returns to the lead: Conte says thanks to Meret
Napoli beats Genoa 2-1 away in the match valid for the 17th day of the championship: the Azzurri impose themselves thanks to goals in the first half by Anguissa and Rrhamani, in the second half they suffer after Pinamonti’s goal but save themselves thanks to Meret’s saves (two on Mario Balotelli). In the standings, Conte’s team temporarily returns to first, first knockout for Vieira.
Napoli very convincing in the first half, Conte's team è overflowing especially at the start and closing at halftime ahead by two goals. Lukaku hits the crossbar in the first minutes, at 15'Anguissa header finds the 1-0 on Neres cross. At 23' came the doubling, another header this time by Rrhamani off a Lobotka free kick. Vieira’s team struggles to get back up, at 35' Napoli has its third goal cancelled out by McTominay for offside by Politano.
Genoa's cold goal at the start of the second half reopened the game: Pinamonti was caught in the box by an excellent Vitinha and beat Meret with a dry finish for the 1-2 that put the Grifone back in the game. The Ligurians gain confidence and come close to 2-2 at 65' with Badelj, Meret's intervention decisive.
Conte tried to give his side breathing room, inserting Kvaratskhelia for Neres and Simeone for Lukaku, while Vieira responded by throwing Mario Balotelli into the fray. The Azzurri risked, at 86'the hosts again came close to equalizing but Meret è decisive on Balotelli. In the minutes of recovery again SuperMario scares Napoli, but the goalkeeper of the partenopei still says no.
