Serie A | Genoa 1-2 Napoli: Conte’s men hang on to break Vieira record | OneFootball

Napoli were forced to hang on and thank the woodwork for their 2-1 victory away to Genoa, who suffered their first defeat under coach Patrick Vieira.

The Partenopei were still missing Alessandro Buongiorno, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was back on the bench, so David Neres and Juan Jesus started. The Grifone were unbeaten under Patrick Vieira, managing three draws and a 2-0 win away to Udinese, including three straight clean sheets. Koni De Winter, Junior Messias, Ruslan Malinovskyi and Honest Ahanor were injured, plus Caleb Ekuban not fully fit.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Romelu Lukaku thought he had broken the deadlock within five minutes with a glancing header between two defenders from five yards, but it thumped the crossbar with Nicola Leali beaten.

Amir Rrahmani made a decisive block as Vitinha controlled the Alessandro Vanoli cross at the back post, but Napoli took the lead when Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa towered above two defenders to nod in the David Neres cross from six yards.

The second goal was not dissimilar, as this time Stanislav Lobotka floated in a free kick and Rrahmani knocked it into the far top corner with a combination of his head, shoulder and then Vitinha amid a crowd of players.

epa11788851 Napoli�s defender Amir Rrahmani (2-L) celebrates with team-mate Juan Jesus (L) after scoring the 0-2 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match Genoa CFC vs SSC Napoli at Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, 21 December 2024. EPA-EFE/STRINGER

Scott McTominay blasted into the roof of the net from close range on 36 minutes, but only after Matteo Politano wandered offside on the assist.

Within 50 seconds of the restart, Alex Meret was forced into a fantastic fingertip save to claw away the Andrea Pinamonti right-foot curler.

It was only a warning, as Pinamonti did get Genoa back in the game by meeting the Vitinha pull-back from the by-line and steering the finish through a sea of legs from seven yards.

Meret was called into action again for a great reaction save on the Milan Badelj header on 65 minutes, as a totally transformed Genoa threatened to equalise.

Kvaratskhelia came off the bench and immediately created havoc, his pull-back prevented from reaching Politano for a tap-in by the crucial Johan Vasquez interception.

Mario Balotelli was introduced for the final push and almost equalised, as Pinamonti’s glancing header clipped his knee and bounced off the inside of the far post.

Meret was again decisive with another fingertip save as Caleb Ekuban at full stretch grazed the Balotelli cross-shot.

Anguissa 15 (N), Rrahmani 23 (N), Pinamonti 51 (G)