Genoa v Napoli - September 13th

Second game of my Serie A Double Bill



Genoa: Amelia - Moretti, Biava, Criscito, Sokratis - Zapater, M.Rossi, Milanetto, Mesto - Sculli, Floccari

Napoli: De Sanctis - Campagnaro, Contini, P.Cannavaro - Aronica, Maggio, Pazienza, Cigarini, - Hamsik - Quagliarella, Lavezzi



Without doubt one of the best matches I've watched this season, the first time I've watched Napoli or Genoa since the 1990's, 5 goals 3 sending offs, really high quality football and introduced myself to some good players.

The Serie A fans I speak to have all said I need to watch Genoa and Napoli as they play some of the best football in Italy if not Europe, so when I saw on the schedule that ESPN were showing Genoa v Napoli Live, and although I couldn't watch it live, and recorded it and finally got round to watching the match.

The first half saw Genoa go down to 10 men, after Criscito was sent off for what I think was descent, then Napoli's Campagnaro was booked for his knee making contact with Amelia's head, a bit harsh I thought, just after this a lovely move for Napoli, Hamsik with a lovely 1-2 then a superb finish past Amelia, and Napoli looked in charge, that was until the 5th minute of injury time, a long ball over the top Floccari running onto it, Campagnaro was on him, he fell, not sure how much contact he made with the striker, Floccari went down and the referee had no doubt, pointed to the spot and showed Campagnaro a straight red, Floccari calmly stepped up and levelled the game, it was a shocking decision for me, Campagnaro did not bring him down, a case of the referee evening up the game.

The second half Genoa came out all guns blazing, and 10 mins in they took the lead, Mesto picked up the ball came in from the left and blasted a right foot shot into the top corner, tremendous goal, Palacio later raced away from the Napoli defence and set up Hernan Crespo for his first goal for Genoa, with 2 minutes to go Napoli went down to 9 men, ball was played into the box and Palacio dived for the header, the referee stopped the play pointed again to the spot, judging Aronica had pushed Palacio although no camera angle showed a push, Moroccan midfielder Kharja took the ball and finished the game.

Both team at some point played some great football, the players that stood up for me, for Genoa: Papastrathopoulos, Milanetto and Mesto, and for Napoli: Cannavaro and Hamsik.

The Genoa midfield impressed alot, Milanetto looked very solid, very calm on the ball showed leadership, good passing, always looking for the ball, a player I had never seen before but he looked quality, his teammate Papastrathopoulos otherwise known as Sokratis, it seems he started the game in defence but with Criscito being sent off, the team was shuffled round and he made his way into the midfield and he done very well, not only playing defensively but picking up the ball and moving forward and linking the play very well, seems a very versatile player, not quite sure myself what his natural position is. Mesto did very well for me on the left, looks naturally right football, superb goal, gave great width, got forward and tracked back. before I thought he was a LB, but showed he is very comfortable getting forward.

For Napoli Fabio's brother Paolo Cannavaro was solid in defence not helped by the sending off of Campagnaro and the at times very shaky Contini, not the biggest but was powerful in the air, good positioning a very strong leader of the team, Hamsik was Napoli's stand out player, I had heard about his ability and potential and he didn't disappoint, superb goal, but overall looked very dangerous, not content to stay in one position he was often found on the left or right and down the middle, hard to track, speed, touch, great skill, impressed in his first showing.

I will be trying to watch these 2 teams more, I think Napoli have more to show, but that win took Genoa joint top of the league so that shows their quality.




M.O.M - Omar Milanetto - Genoa

Match Rating 8.5/10