Newly-promoted Genoa came agonizingly close to posting their second win of the new Serie A campaign, and against defending champions Napoli, nonetheless. However, Alberto Gilardino’s team left a two-goal lead slip through their fingers down the final stretch and eventually had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Center-back Mattia Bani gave Genoa a well-deserved halftime lead late in the first half, heading home Koni De Winter’s flick on the far post. The Griffins doubled up less than 15 minutes into the second half as Mateo Retegui added to his Serie A tally with a top-class finish from inside the box.
After a stunning 1-0 win at Lazio on matchday two, Genoa looked well on course to pull off another upset. However, Napoli staged a phenomenal late comeback through substitutes Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori, denying the Griffins a chance to avenge back-to-back H2H defeats with a win.
Though a draw must have left a bitter taste in Gilardino’s mouth, considering how close he came to beating a far more heavily fancied Napoli, he praised his Genoa side after the game.
“There is a bit of regret for how the game was played and how we played. There is the awareness of having done a great match, of having done what we prepared for,” the Genoa coach said, as relayed by Tuttomercatoweb.
“So congratulations to the guys for how they worked, for the sacrifice they put into it, really good.“
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