NAPLES — At the foot of Vesuvius, with the sun dipping low over the Gulf of Naples, Napoli produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Genoa 2-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Sunday evening, reaffirming their credentials as Serie A contenders and extending their fine early-season form.

For long spells, it was Genoa who threatened to spoil the Neapolitan party, taking a deserved first-half lead and unsettling a capacity crowd accustomed to home dominance. But goals from Frank Anguissa and substitute Rasmus Hojlund turned the tide, as Napoli’s depth and resolve again proved decisive.

Genoa Strike First, Maradona Grows Anxious

The story of the first half was one of frustration for the hosts, who struggled to impose their expected attacking rhythm. Genoa, compact and well-drilled, succeeded in slowing the tempo, clogging Napoli’s creative lanes and striking opportunistically on the counter.

The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute, and it was a move born of directness and conviction. After a quick transition, Brooke Norton-Cuffy surged down the right and delivered a precise cross; Joseph Ekhator, ghosting between defenders, met the ball at pace and drove his finish past the sprawling Alex Meret. Stunned into rare silence, the Maradona faithful watched their team trail at home, Genoa’s discipline personified by the early yellow card to Andrea Marcandalli as the visitors refused to give up an inch.

Napoli probed for a response, but frustrations mounted. A bookings tally that soon included Ruslan Malinovskyi underlined Genoa’s aggressive approach, while manager Rudi Garcia was compelled into an early substitution, introducing Stanislav Lobotka for the struggling midfield.

Anguissa Sparks the Turnaround

Momentum shifted after the interval. Napoli’s halftime adjustments, including the introduction of Mathías Olivera and Matteo Politano, gave their attack overdue width and energy. The hosts’ pressing grew more intense, and in the 57th minute the equalizer finally arrived.

A period of sustained pressure saw Politano whip in a teasing cross; a defensive scramble ensued, and the ball fell kindly to Frank Anguissa on the edge of the area. The Cameroonian midfielder struck low and hard, threading his shot through a sea of legs and into the bottom corner. Relief swept around the stadium as Napoli, reanimated, surged forward in pursuit of victory.

Genoa, who had soaked up pressure stoically, found themselves increasingly on the back foot. A series of substitutions — including the withdrawal of their goalscorer Ekhator and the tireless Malinovskyi on 61 minutes — hinted at fatigue creeping into the visitors’ legs. A yellow card for Simon Otoa underscored mounting desperation in the Genoa ranks as Napoli ramped up the intensity.

Hojlund Delivers, Maradona Erupts

Napoli’s reward for their dominance came with just 15 minutes remaining, as Rasmus Hojlund — initially left out of the starting lineup, perhaps with an eye on upcoming fixtures — made his mark with ruthless efficiency. Quick interplay in midfield fashioned an opening, and Hojlund, alive to the moment, darted onto a clever pass before sliding his finish beyond the Genoa goalkeeper. The Maradona erupted, the momentum now almost tangible.

As Genoa made further changes — Stefano Sabelli and Vitinha thrown on in a late bid to salvage a point — Napoli tightened their grip, controlling possession and dictating tempo. The hosts’ own substitutions in the closing stages, including the removal of Hojlund and David Neres with eight minutes to play, reflected a side content to manage the closing minutes professionally. There were nervy moments, but Napoli’s defensive resilience, anchored by Lobotka’s composure and Olivera’s energy, ensured Genoa could not fashion a late equalizer.

Implications and Looking Ahead

For Napoli, this was a victory emblematic of a potential title challenge: not always fluent, but suffused with resilience, tactical flexibility, and individual quality. Anguissa’s all-action presence in midfield and Hojlund’s clinical cameo underscored the team’s depth, while Garcia’s bold changes at halftime swung the contest.

Genoa, for their part, depart southern Italy with pride intact and the knowledge that, for over an hour, they had Napoli on the ropes. Their discipline and tactical organization will serve them well in the battles to come.

On a day when the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona again proved a fortress, the city of Naples was reminded — should it need reminding — that, with this side, hope and ambition remain very much alive.