Genoa 2-3 Napoli Player Ratings: Højlund Scores Late Penalty To Secure All Three Points In a Thrilling Away Victory

A chaotic and utterly compelling match we just witnessed at the Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris as Napoli clinched a win at the very end against Genoa. From our perspective, it was a rollercoaster of emotions, ending in a dramatic 3-2 victory for Napoli over a heartbroken Genoa side.

The game exploded into life from the very first minute. Genoa were awarded a penalty, which Ruslan Malinovskyi coolly converted. Antonio Conte's men roared back with an astonishing one-two punch. Rasmus Højlund and Scott McTominay scored within a minute of each other to flip the game on its head.

Just when the fans thought the dust had settled, Lorenzo Colombo levelled for the hosts in the second half. The drama intensified when Juan Jesus received his marching orders in the 76th minute, leaving SSC Napoli with ten men.

Yet, in a final twist, the visitors won a late penalty, and Rasmus Højlund stepped up to seal a memorable win in this unforgettable match.

Have a look at our Genoa vs Napoli Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Ruslan Malinovskyi converted his spot-kick in the 3rd minute after Alex Meret fouled Vitinha in the box.
• Goals from Rasmus Højlund and Scott McTominay brought Napoli back in the game, but Lorenzo Colombo equalized in the 57th minute.
• Despite Juan Jesus seeing a red card in the 76th minute, Napoli secured the win through a late penalty from Rasmus Højlund.

Genoa Player Ratings vs Napoli

Here are the Genoa Player Ratings from the Genoa vs Napoli Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Justin Bijlow - 6.0: We felt a bit for Bijlow today. He was left exposed for all three goals and couldn't have done much about any of them. He did make a couple of important saves, including a fantastic one to deny Højlund early on. It's tough to give a high rating when you concede three, but he wasn't directly at fault. An okay performance in difficult circumstances.

Defenders

Leo Østigård - 6.5: From our perspective, Østigård was a beast in the air, winning almost everything that came his way. He was physically dominant and made some crucial clearances. However, being part of a defense that conceded three goals, and looked shaky at times, prevents a higher score. He was a mixed bag of solid individual moments and collective defensive lapses.

Johan Vásquez - 7.0: The captain led by example with a warrior-like performance. He was immense in his duels, winning an incredible 12 of them. What stood out to us was his determination, constantly putting his body on the line. He did pick up a yellow card, but it was a result of his aggressive, front-foot defending. A very strong showing.

Alessandro Marcandalli - 5.5: The young defender had a difficult evening. He looked a bit overwhelmed by Napoli's sharp attackers and was booked for a clumsy challenge. While his passing was neat and tidy, his primary job is to defend, and he struggled in that department. A tough learning experience for him.

Midfielders

Aarón Martín - 6.0: He provided decent width down the left and whipped in a few crosses, one of which created a half-chance. However, his overall impact on the game was limited. He worked hard but lacked that bit of quality in the final third before he was substituted. A pretty average display.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy - 6.0: A quiet game for the midfielder. He had one decent long-range effort that went just wide, but otherwise struggled to get involved in the key moments. We noticed he was often on the periphery of the action rather than influencing it. He didn't do much wrong, but he didn't do much to change the game either.

Ruslan Malinovskyi - 7.5: What a player. He dispatched his early penalty with supreme confidence and was a constant menace from then on. His left foot is a cannon, and he forced a great save from Meret with a shot from distance. He was Genoa's main creative spark and looked dangerous every time he got on the ball. We were surprised to see him subbed off.

Morten Frendrup - 6.5: A typically industrious performance from Frendrup. His passing was incredibly secure, and he broke up play effectively in the middle of the park. He doesn’t grab headlines, but he provides a vital balance to the team. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Mikael Egill Ellertsson - 5.5: A frustrating performance to watch. He got into some good areas, but his final ball was consistently poor. He lost possession a few too many times and seemed to struggle with the pace of the game. A night where things just didn't click for him.

Forwards

Vitinha - 7.0: He was a livewire throughout his time on the pitch. His clever movement won the early penalty, setting the tone for a chaotic match. He was a real handful for the Napoli defence with his dribbling and energy. His end product could have been better, but his overall contribution was very positive.

Lorenzo Colombo - 7.5: He took his goal superbly, a calm finish that brought Genoa level. He worked tirelessly, hassling and harrying the Napoli backline. From our perspective he should have scored another from close range, which he'll be kicking himself for. A performance full of effort and a well-taken goal.

Substitutes

Caleb Ekuban - N/A: Came on late but didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

Patrizio Masini - N/A: Didn't play long enough to warrant a rating.

Junior Messias - N/A: A late introduction with little time to influence proceedings.

Maxwel Cornet - N/A: Came on in the final minutes.

Manager

D. De Rossi - 6.5: He set his team up to be aggressive and it paid off, as they caused Napoli countless problems. The response to going behind was excellent. However, his side couldn't see the game out, even with a man advantage, which is a major disappointment. A good game plan let down by the final result.

Napoli Player Ratings vs Genoa

Here are the Napoli Player Ratings from the Genoa vs Napoli Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Alex Meret - 5.0: A night to forget for the Napoli keeper. He was clumsy in conceding the first-minute penalty and was lucky to only see yellow. He looked nervy and didn't inspire any confidence in his backline. While he did make one decent save, his big mistake set a terrible tone for his team's defensive efforts.

Defenders

Alessandro Buongiorno - 5.0: What stood out to us was his mistake that led to a goal, a real lapse in concentration. He looked uncomfortable all evening and was rightly substituted after just an hour. He won a fair few duels but that single error was incredibly costly. A poor performance.

Juan Jesus - 3.0: An absolute disaster. He was a liability from start to finish. He struggled to handle Genoa's forwards and then committed a senseless foul to earn a second yellow card. He completely let his teammates down and put them in a huge hole. A shocking display.

Amir Rrahmani - 7.0: Amidst the defensive chaos around him, Rrahmani was a pillar of composure. He was excellent on the ball, spraying long passes and even bagging an assist for McTominay's goal. He made several key interceptions and clearances. A very good performance in a struggling backline.

Midfielders

Miguel Gutiérrez - 6.5: A solid if unremarkable performance. He tried to get forward and support the attack and was mostly tidy in possession. Defensively, he was caught out a couple of times which was a slight concern. He did his job without ever really grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck.

Scott McTominay - 7.5: He only played for 45 minutes, but what an impact he had. He scored a brilliant goal from distance and was a constant threat with his late arrivals into the box. We were genuinely disappointed when he was substituted at halftime, presumably due to an injury. A game-changing cameo.

Leonardo Spinazzola - 6.0: We expected more from him. He got into promising positions but his final ball was lacking. He seemed a bit off the pace and picked up a silly yellow card late on. It felt like a quiet game by his standards, and he never really imposed his attacking threat.

Stanislav Lobotka - 7.0: The captain was the calm in the storm. His pass completion rate was near-perfect, and he dictated the tempo for Napoli from deep. When everyone else seemed to be losing their heads, he kept things simple and effective. A classy and composed performance.

Forwards

Eljif Elmas - 7.0: A really clever performance from Elmas. He linked the midfield and attack beautifully, creating two good chances for his teammates. He was always available for a pass and used the ball intelligently. A very effective and tidy display that played a big part in Napoli's attacking fluency.

Antonio Vergara - 6.5: A mixed bag. He worked incredibly hard and won a penalty, but his final product was often frustrating. He was dispossessed five times and his decision-making let him down on occasion. You can't fault his effort, but he needed more quality in key moments.

Rasmus Højlund - 9.0: The undisputed man of the match. What a performance. He showed great composure for his first goal to bring Napoli level. Then, with the game on the line and his team down to ten men, he stepped up and coolly converted the winning penalty. A clinical, decisive, and heroic display. This was the highest-rated player on the pitch.

Substitutes

Giovane - N/A: Replaced McTominay at the half but was later substituted himself.

Sam Beukema - N/A: Came on for the struggling Buongiorno but didn't have much to do.

Mathías Olivera - N/A: A late sub to shore things up defensively.

Manager

A. Conte - 7.5: This was a victory forged by character, which is a credit to the manager. His team showed immense fight to come from behind and then win it with 10 men. He'll be furious with the defensive errors and ill-discipline. But ultimately, he found a way to win a chaotic game, and that's what top managers do.

Man of the Match

Rasmus Højlund of Napoli was our man of the match from this Serie A clash.

Worst Performer

Juan Jesus was the worst of the lot in this Genoa vs Napoli match.