Napoli 2-1 Genoa Player Ratings: Frank Anguissa 8.5/10 Rated as Napoli Fight Back for a 2-1 Victory

What a rollercoaster of a match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. We witnessed Napoli snatch a comeback victory against a spirited Genoa side in this Serie A encounter. This was a classic game of two halves. Genoa came out of the gates absolutely flying, and we were genuinely surprised by their intensity. They deservedly took the lead through Jeff Ekhator, who looked sharp, and went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage that left the home crowd stunned.

However, you can never count Napoli out, especially at home. Whatever manager A. Conte said at halftime clearly lit a fire under his players. They emerged for the second half with a completely different mentality. The equalizer felt inevitable, and it came from the brilliant Frank Anguissa, who was a force all evening. The momentum had completely shifted, and Napoli kept pushing. The winning goal from Rasmus Højlund in the 75th minute sealed the deal, sending the home fans into raptures. It was a hard-fought, dramatic win in a match that had everything. Here are the Napoli vs Genoa player ratings.

Genoa Player Ratings vs Napoli

Here are the Genoa player ratings vs Napoli.

Goalkeeper

Nicola Leali - 6.5: He couldn't do much about the two goals he conceded, they were well-taken finishes. Leali made a few crucial saves, particularly a smart stop late in the game to keep his team in it. What stood out to us was his poor distribution, with less than 50% of his passes finding their man. It put his team under unnecessary pressure at times. A mixed bag for the keeper.

Defenders

Stefano Sabelli - 6.5: A really solid and professional performance from Sabelli before he was substituted. He was a rock on the right side, winning 100% of his tackles and duels. He was a reliable outlet and drew several fouls to relieve pressure. We were a little surprised to see him taken off, as he was one of Genoa's better performers.

Johan Vásquez - 6.5: As captain, he led by example with a committed defensive display. He made six clearances and won most of his duels, showing his experience. He even ventured forward for a shot in the first half. However, he was dribbled past a couple of times, showing some vulnerability against Napoli's tricky attackers. Overall a decent outing.

Alessandro Marcandalli - 5.0: A really difficult day at the office for the young defender. From our perspective, he looked overwhelmed by the occasion. He committed three fouls picked up a yellow card, and just seemed a step off the pace. It was no surprise when he was substituted at halftime. A learning experience for him, for sure.

Mikael Egill Ellertsson - 6.0: A tireless performance from Ellertsson, but one that lacked quality. He worked hard up and down the flank but lost the ball far too often. He seemed to struggle with the pace of the game in the second half as Napoli turned up the heat. He made some important tackles but it wasn't enough.

Midfielders

Vitinha - 6.0: Vitinha showed flashes of what he can do, but it was a frustrating performance to watch. He lost possession a staggering 19 times which is simply too much at this level. He made some good defensive contributions with clearances and tackles, but his impact in the final third was minimal. He was eventually substituted after a tireless but inefficient shift.

Brooke Norton-Cuffy - 7.5: What a player. This kid was Genoa's standout performer by a country mile. He was a constant threat down the right, providing the assist for the opening goal and creating another big chance. His dribbling was superb, and he didn't waste the ball. He was a bright spark in a team that was ultimately on the back foot for much of the game.

Ruslan Malinovskyi - 5.5: We expected more from a player of his quality. Malinovskyi struggled to impose himself on the game and his delivery from set-pieces was inconsistent. He picked up a booking and lost all five of his duels which tells its own story. He was rightly substituted just after the hour mark.

Morten Frendrup - 6.5: A classic battling display in the heart of midfield. Frendrup was all over the pitch, making tackles and interceptions to break up Napoli's rhythm. He was combative, maybe too much so at times giving away a couple of fouls. His energy was impressive, but his use of the ball could have been better.

Patrizio Masini - 6.5: Very similar to his midfield partner Frendrup. Masini was a workhorse, making six clearances and winning three tackles. He drew a lot of fouls, showing his cleverness in tight situations. However, he was on the losing end of eight duels and his passing was a bit loose. A gutsy, if limited, performance.

Forwards

Jeff Ekhator - 7.0: The young forward had a memorable day, scoring his first goal with a well-taken poacher's finish. His movement caused Napoli's backline problems in the first half, and he looked like a real threat. His influence waned as the game went on, and he was caught offside a couple of times. A promising performance before he was subbed off.

Substitutes

Sebastian Otoa - 5.5: Came on at halftime and immediately looked shaky, picking up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. He struggled to cope with Napoli's increased tempo.

Morten Thorsby - 6.0: Brought on to add some steel to the midfield but struggled to get into the flow of the game.

Caleb Ekuban - 6.0: Added a physical presence but had little service to work with.

Lorenzo Colombo - 6.0: Tried to make an impact but his main contribution was conceding a foul with a handball.

Valentín Carboni - N/A: Didn't have enough time or touches to warrant a rating.

Manager

P. Vieira - 6.5: His game plan was perfect in the first half. His team was organized, aggressive, and clinical. However, he had no answer to Napoli's second-half resurgence. His substitutions failed to change the momentum of the game, and his side ultimately succumbed to the pressure.

Napoli Player Ratings vs Genoa

Here are the Napoli player ratings vs Genoa.

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 6.0: He was a spectator for large parts of the game and couldn't be faulted for the goal he conceded. His distribution was decent enough, but he had very little to do with his hands. An unusually quiet evening for the Napoli shot-stopper.

Defenders

Juan Jesus - 6.5: A steady and composed performance from the veteran defender. He was comfortable on the ball, with high passing accuracy, and made several important clearances. He kept things simple and did his job effectively without any fuss. A reliable presence at the back.

Mathías Olivera - 6.0: A very tidy performance before being substituted early in the second half. His pass completion rate was an impressive 91%, showing his composure in possession. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but was solid defensively. A decent, if unspectacular, outing.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 8.0: A true captain's performance. Di Lorenzo was everywhere, driving his team forward and leading by example. He was unlucky not to score, hitting the post with a header. He was immense defensively, winning tackles and duels, and was a constant threat in attack. An all-action display.

Sam Beukema - 7.0: So calm and collected at the heart of the defence. From our perspective, his 93% pass accuracy was key to Napoli building from the back. He won almost all of his duels and read the game beautifully making five clearances. A very classy and modern defensive performance.

Midfielders

David Neres - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the winger. He showed glimpses of his skill and created a big chance but his final product was often lacking. He got himself a needless yellow card and seemed to drift out of the game for long periods. We just expect more from a player with his talent.

Scott McTominay - 6.5: It was a very typical McTominay performance. He was a huge presence in the air, winning four aerial duels, and battled hard in midfield. However, he was also a bit clumsy, losing possession 12 times and missing a big chance to score. You get a lot of fight, but sometimes you want a bit more finesse.

Stanislav Lobotka - 6.5: He was quietly dictating the tempo of the game before his unfortunate injury. His passing was crisp and accurate, and he kept Napoli ticking over. It was a real shame to see him forced off, as Napoli missed his control in the latter stages of the first half.

Frank Anguissa - 8.5: Our man of the match. Anguissa was an absolute monster in the midfield. He dragged his team back into the game with a powerful header for the equalizer. He was strong in the tackle, creative with his passing, and drove forward with purpose all game. A complete and dominant performance that decided the match.

Matteo Politano - 6.0: His game was cut short by injury, but he had enough time to miss a huge chance early on. He looked lively and his successful dribbles showed he was causing problems. It's hard to give a higher rating given his limited time on the pitch.

Forwards

Rasmus Højlund - 7.5: For 74 minutes, it was a frustrating night for the striker. He was isolated, lost duels, and struggled to get involved. Then, in a flash, he showed his quality with a clinical finish to win the game. That's what top strikers do. He also drew four fouls, showing what a handful he can be even when things aren't going his way.

Substitutes

Billy Gilmour - 6.5: Came on for the injured Lobotka and helped Napoli regain some control in midfield.

Leonardo Spinazzola - 6.5: Looked bright after coming on, getting forward and having a shot blocked.

Kevin De Bruyne - 7.0: Provided the assist for Di Lorenzo's chance that hit the post and looked a class above when he came on.

Miguel Gutiérrez - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Lorenzo Lucca - 6.5: Forced a good save from Leali late on and looked like a threat.

Manager

A. Conte - 7.5: His team was poor in the first half, and he must take some responsibility. But his halftime team talk clearly worked wonders. His side came out with renewed belief and energy to turn the game around. His substitutions were effective and helped secure a crucial three points.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Frank Anguissa