Serie A · Saturday, 22 August 2026

De Bruyne garante vitória do Napoli em Gênova

Genoa 0-2 SSC Napoli
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Napoli arrived at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris with clear intent and left with three points, though the away side had to wait until the closing stages to break down a stubborn Genoa defence. The hosts offered surprisingly little attacking threat throughout and rarely troubled David Ospina's goal, leaving the visiting supporters waiting anxiously for the decisive moment that would finally come their way.

The deadlock held firm until the 82nd minute, when Kevin De Bruyne finally delivered the breakthrough for Napoli. With Genoa stretched and fatiguing, the Belgian midfielder found space to strike and put the visitors ahead. De Bruyne's clinical finish wrapped up the three points for Napoli as the hosts could not muster any comeback, leaving the final scoreline at Genoa 0-2 SSC Napoli.

The second half marked a shift in Napoli's intensity, though the opening 45 minutes had already established their superiority in possession and control. Genoa's task became increasingly difficult as the game wore on, and Matteo Politano's yellow card in the 54th minute underlined the mounting pressure on the visitors to maintain discipline while pressing forward. By the time De Bruyne struck, Genoa's resistance had crumbled entirely.

Napoli dictated tempo throughout and moved the ball with purpose, while Genoa struggled to impose themselves and rarely created genuine openings of their own. The away side's patient build-up play eventually wore down their opponents, and the gap in class became more apparent as the match progressed. When the breakthrough arrived, it felt inevitable rather than surprising.

The caution shown to Politano reflected Napoli's willingness to engage physically when required, yet the Partenopei maintained sufficient control to avoid further disciplinary trouble. Genoa's evening ended in frustration, unable to generate momentum or capitalise on any lapses from Luciano Spalletti's side. For Napoli, the road trip to the northwest proved straightforward enough, and the victory keeps their early-season momentum building ahead of next weekend's fixture.

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