Football Italia
·7 February 2026
Serie A | Genoa 2-3 Napoli: Hojlund the hero as 10 men snatch victory

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·7 February 2026

Napoli survived a penalty after 15 seconds, Scott McTominay injury and Juan Jesus red card to snatch a last-gasp 3-2 victory away to Genoa with Rasmus Hojlund’s brace.
The injury crisis dragged on for Antonio Conte, who was still missing Giovanni Di Lorenzo, David Neres, Kevin De Bruyne, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour, while Matteo Politano and Vanja Milinkovic-Savic were only fit for the bench, but at least Amir Rrahmani returned to the starting XI. The Grifone saw their five-match unbeaten run ended by a chaotic 3-2 defeat to Lazio. Tommaso Baldanzi and Benjamin Siegrist missed out, and Leo Ostigard faced his former club.

GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Antonio Conte, head coach of Napoli (left), greets Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa, prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
It was a dramatic start, as within 15 seconds Alessandro Buongiorno panicked and hacked at a long ball, allowing Vitinha to run into the box, where he went down under an Alex Meret challenge. The referee awarded a penalty following the VAR review, so Ruslan Malinovskyi converted the spot-kick centrally.

GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Ruslan Malinovskyi of Genoa (center) scores a goal on a penalty kick during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Scott McTominay shinned an effort over from the edge of the box, but Napoli turned it around with an astonishing few minutes.
First McTominay’s angled drive was parried by Justin Bijlow into the path of Hojlund to tap in for his first Serie A goal of 2026.
Play had barely resumed when McTominay won a tackle in midfield and thumped a right-foot scorcher into the near bottom corner from 25 metres out.
Curiously, in those few seconds between the two goals, the Scotland international had gone to the touchline to get some magic spray on his right ankle. He was then visibly hobbling after the goal with a muscular issue at the back of the right leg.

GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Eljif Elmas of Napoli (right) sprays his teammate Scott McTominay’s right ankle during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Malinovskyi’s long-range screamer forced a flying Meret save out from under the bar on the stroke of half-time.
McTominay was replaced by Giovane, with Eljif Elmas dropping into midfield and Antonio Vergara shifting over to the left flank.
Genoa got back on level terms, and it was another howler from Buongiorno, who was caught napping in midfield and robbed by Lorenzo Colombo, who surges forward to drill into the far bottom corner.

GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Lorenzo Colombo of Genoa (right) scores a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Napoli fought back, Spinazzola scuffing the finish after a give and go with Hojlund, then a double chance where Miguel Gutierrez saw his finish charged down and Stanislav Lobotka ballooned over.
Malinovskyi and Vitinha also turned over from promising positions, but Napoli went down to 10 men when Juan Jesus pulled back Caleb Ekuban by the jersey for a second yellow card. It also means he’ll be suspended against his old club Roma next week.

GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa (left), greets Juan Jesus of Napoli prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
There was drama deep into stoppages when Maxwel Cornet trod on Vergara’s foot during a Napoli corner. Just like in the opening minute, Massa had to be called to the VAR monitor and awarded a penalty. Hojlund slightly scuffed the spot-kick, his first ever in Serie A, and it squirmed under Justin Bijlow’s hand to give 10-man Napoli the victory.
Malinovskyi pen 3 (G), Hojlund 20, pen 95 (N), McTominay 22 (N), Colombo 57 (G)
Sent off: Juan Jesus 76 (N)








































