Serie A | Napoli 2-1 Genoa – Hojlund makes it three in two games

Napoli had been expected to dominate, and while they did enjoy the majority of the possession in the opening period, Genoa’s work off the ball made it difficult for Conte’s side to create any clear-cut chances. 

The first shot on target did not arrive until the 33rd minute, and it proved to be costly for the Partenopei. 

Brooke Norton-Cuffy did brilliantly to round Mathias Olivera in the penalty area and make it to the byline, and then had plenty of space to pick out Jeff Ekhator in the middle. The teenager only had to put his foot out to poke home from close range. 

In the end, Napoli had to wait for almost an hour for their first effort on target to arrive. And, like Genoa in the first half they made it count. 

Leonardo Spinazzola’s cross was aimed at De Bruyne in the middle, the Belgian tried to connect but saw the ball loop upwards. Fortunately, Anguissa was alert behind him and stuck his neck out to head home on the follow-up. 

The comeback was complete with a quarter of an hour left to play. De Bruyne sent in a cross from the left, McTominay brought it down, Anguissa’s shot was blocked, but Hojlund was on home to slam in the rebound for his third goal in two matches.

Sunday’s result means that Napoli go back to the top of the Serie A standings, level on points with Roma, who were also victorious on Sunday. Milan could also draw level with those two if they beat Juventus this evening.

Genoa, meanwhile, are still without a win in Serie A this season and will head into the international break in 19th place in the standings, despite a largely encouraging performance at the Maradona.

Napoli 2-1 Genoa 

Ekuban (G) 33′, Anguissa (N) 57′, Hojlund (N) 75′.

05-10-2025 17:00 MatchDay 6 Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli

Genoa 2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

		28'		Alessandro Marcandalli
		33'		Jeff Ekhator (Assist: Brooke Norton-Cuffy)
		38'		Ruslan Malinovskyi

2nd half

David Neres		55'
Frank Anguissa		57'
		63'

Sebastian Otoa Rasmus Højlund

75'     Napoli Genoa

Starting lineups

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić Goalkeeper 22

Giovanni Di Lorenzo Defender 5

Juan Jesus Defender 17

Mathías Olivera Defender 50' 31 Sam Beukema Defender 99

Frank Anguissa Midfielder 8

Scott McTominay Midfielder 68

Stanislav Lobotka Midfielder 44' 7

David Neres Attacker 82' 21

Matteo Politano Attacker 50' 19

Rasmus Højlund Attacker 82' 1 Nicola Leali Goalkeeper 27 Alessandro Marcandalli Defender 46' 15 Brooke Norton-Cuffy Defender 22

Johan Vásquez Defender 20

Stefano Sabelli Defender 76' 32 Morten Frendrup Midfielder 73 Patrizio Masini Midfielder 17

Ruslan Malinovskyi Midfielder 61' 21 Jeff Ekhator Attacker 61' 77 Mikael Egill Ellertsson Attacker 9 Vitinha Attacker

76'

Substitutes

1

Alex Meret Goalkeeper 20

Eljif Elmas Midfielder 26 Antonio Vergara Midfielder 30 Pasquale Mazzocchi Defender 70

Noa Lang Attacker 69 Giuseppe Ambrosino Attacker 35 Luca Marianucci Defender 25 Mathias Ferrante Goalkeeper 6

Billy Gilmour Midfielder 44' 37

Leonardo Spinazzola Defender 50' 11

Kevin De Bruyne Midfielder 50' 27 Lorenzo Lucca Attacker 82' 3 Miguel Gutiérrez Defender 82' 39 Daniele Sommariva Goalkeeper Jean Onana Midfielder 31

Benjamin Siegrist Goalkeeper 11 Albert Grønbaek Midfielder 40 Seydou Fini Attacker 3

Aarón Martín Defender 30 Hugo Cuenca Midfielder 76 Lorenzo Venturino Attacker 34 Sebastian Otoa Defender 46' 18

Caleb Ekuban Attacker 61' 2

Morten Thorsby Midfielder 61' 29 Lorenzo Colombo Attacker 76' 23

Valentín Carboni Midfielder

76'