Genoa – Napoli: Conte’s Vertical Control Seals A Hard-Fought Win At The Marassi (2-3)

After an early stuttering phase in which Genoa capitalised on defensive miscommunication to seize the lead from the penalty spot, Napoli gradually wrestled control of the midfield through incisive vertical transitions and incisiveness from Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund, snatching a swift double to flip the scoreline inside the first half. Despite being pegged back by Lorenzo Colombo’s composed finish after the break and then reduced to ten men following Juan Jesus’s dismissal, Conte’s side showed tactical resilience and an ability to absorb pressure before clinching victory with a dramatic stoppage-time penalty at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. The visitors’ blend of direct attacking intent and disciplined reaction to shifting game states ultimately proved decisive in a dynamic 3–2 Serie A win.

Tactical analysis and match report by Mustafa Hassan.

The starting XIs reflected two distinct approaches to structure and game control. Genoa, under Daniele De Rossi, lined up in a 3-5-2 that aimed to balance defensive solidity with midfield density rather than sustained attacking dominance. Justin Bijlow started in goal behind a back three of Marcandalli, Østigård and Vásquez, a unit focused more on protecting central spaces and managing depth than stepping aggressively into higher zones. The presence of wing-backs Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Aarón Martín was central to Genoa’s progression, providing width and transitional outlets rather than constant overlap.

In midfield, Ruslan Malinovskyi and Morten Frendrup formed the structural core, combining ball circulation with defensive coverage, while Mikael Ellertsson offered vertical support from the right half-space. Up front, Vitinha partnered Lorenzo Colombo in a complementary pairing, with Colombo operating . . .