Serie A
Genoa 0-2 Napoli: De Bruyne and Vergara secure opening-day Serie A win
Goals in the final ten minutes from Kevin De Bruyne and Alessandro Vergara gave visiting Napoli all three points on the opening weekend of the Serie A season.
Napoli made a winning start to their Serie A campaign with a 2-0 victory away at Genoa, thanks to two late goals at the Luigi Ferraris. The hosts, managed by Daniele De Rossi in a 3-4-2-1 formation, were unable to break down a resolute Napoli side, who lined up under Massimiliano Allegri in a 4-3-3 setup.
The first half passed without either side finding the net, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. Genoa’s defensive shape limited Napoli’s attacking rhythm, and referee Marco Di Bello kept play moving in a tightly contested opening period.
The deadlock was broken in the 82nd minute when Kevin De Bruyne slotted home a Normal Goal, assisted by Alessandro Vergara. Just five minutes later, Vergara returned the favour, scoring himself with an assist from De Bruyne to make it 2-0 and seal the result.
Genoa pushed forward in search of a consolation goal, but Napoli’s defence held firm. The hosts pulled their goalkeeper forward for corners in the dying moments, yet could not find a way through.
Two late yellow cards punctuated the closing stages. Mattia Politano was booked for Napoli in the 54th minute, while Gaetano and Stefano Sabelli both received cautions for Genoa in the 85th minute as tensions rose in stoppage time.
The result leaves Genoa without points after Matchday 1, sitting 19th in the table. Napoli, meanwhile, sit second with three points, level on points with the early leaders but with a superior goal difference.
It was a clinical display from the visitors, who waited until the final third of the match to strike. The partnership between De Bruyne and Vergara proved decisive, with both players scoring and assisting in a dominant finish.
For Genoa, the defeat is a slow start to the season at home, where they will look to bounce back quickly. Napoli’s victory provides a strong platform as they begin their title challenge under Allegri.