Napoli defeated Genoa 2-1 at the Stadio San Paolo on Monday evening in Serie A.
An early strike from Gonzalo Higuain gave the Azzurri an early lead, before Iago Falque levelled. Higuain sealed the win from the spot in the second half of an enthralling encounter.
Napoli started the game strongly with Gonzalo Higuain firing high and wide from the edge of the area after Mattia Perin had parried Marek Hamsik’s second minute cross.
The Azzurri took a deserved lead as the early pressure paid off, Argentine striker Higuain was on hand to head into an empty net following Perin’s failure to hold onto Jose Callejon’s long range effort.
Rafael Benitez’s men continued to pepper Perin’s goal as they searched for a second goal in a largely one sided first period. Jonathan de Guzman almost doubled the scoreline with a chipped effort from inside the Genoa box, but his attempt landed on the roof of the visitors net.
Gian Piero Gasperini opted for the same eleven as the teams returned for the second half, resisting to change The Old Fool’s game plan. It took a wonderful Nicolás Burdisso goal-line clearance to keep Genoa in the game in the opening minutes of the second half, the former Inter defender denied de Guzman after the midfielder had rounded Mattia Perin.
Genoa gave Mbaye Niang a second half debut as the Milan owned striker replaced Ioannis Fetfatzidis. The response was immediate as Iago Falque received a pass from Andrea Bertolucci before placing his shot beyond Rafael in the Napoli goal and into the corner of the net.
Napoli responded well with Callejon’s deflected effort bouncing off the crossbar following some neat build up play on the left flank involving Hamsik and Ivan Strinic.
Gonzalo Higuain scored his second goal of the evening as Gianpaolo Calvarese pointed to the spot following substitute Manolo Gabbiadini’s free kick, with Juraj Kucka adjudged to have impeded the former Real Madrid man.
Higuain made no mistake from twelve yards, powering his right footed spot kick into the bottom corner to secure an important three points.
The victory returned the men from Naples to third place in the Serie A standings, ahead of Lazio and Sampdoria in the race for the third Champions League berth.
