On August 22, 2026, at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa, Napoli kicked off their Serie A campaign with a confident 2-0 victory over Genoa. Referee Marco Di Bello from Brindisi blew the starting whistle at 21:45 Moscow time, and from the first minutes it became clear that the visitors were in for a tough away match. The first half was evenly contested: the hosts, backed by a 36,000-strong crowd, played disciplined defense and periodically troubled Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret. However, all of Genoa's attempts ended either with inaccurate shots or reliable play from the visitors' defenders. Napoli, in turn, tried to control the game through midfield, but accurate passes in the final third were lacking. The second half began with more aggressive play from the visitors, who increased their intensity and speed. In the 54th minute, the referee showed a yellow card to Matteo Politano for a foul in the center of the pitch. Genoa continued to defend, but the individual class of Napoli's players ultimately decided the outcome. In the 82nd minute, Kevin De Bruyne, receiving a pass from Antonio Vergara, unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top-left corner — Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali was helpless. This goal became a turning point: Genoa tried to push forward with more players, but Napoli's defense, led by Alessandro Buongiorno, stood firm. In the 85th minute, the referee showed yellow cards to two Genoa players — Stefano Sabelli and Leo Estigor — for rough fouls. Then, in the 87th minute, Napoli sealed the victory: this time Vergara scored after a brilliant assist from De Bruyne, who dribbled down the right flank and passed to an empty net. The final score of 0-2 reflects the difference in class between the teams, although Genoa showed character and organized play. Match statistics: Napoli had 62% possession, registered 15 shots on goal compared to Genoa's 8, and completed 87% of their passes. Antonio Conte's side now prepares for the next round, while Genoa will look for their first points against more comparable opponents. This away success for Napoli was a strong statement of their intention to compete for the highest positions in the championship, and De Bruyne and Vergara showed in the very first round that they will be key figures in the team's attack this season.

ItalyMenFootball