Napoli down Genoa to climb into second
ByReuters
Updated 10/02/2017 at 22:31 GMT
Napoli secured a 2-0 win over Genoa thanks to second-half goals from Piotr Zielinski and Emanuele Giaccherini at the Stadio San Paolo to move up to second place in Serie A on Friday.
Napoli's Piotr Zielinski celebrates after scoring against Genoa
Image credit: Reuters
Napoli, who face a Champions League last-16 first-leg clash at Real Madrid on Wednesday, have 51 points, six behind Juventus and one ahead of AS Roma before their weekend games.
The Naples club, fresh from a 7-1 thrashing of Bologna away last weekend, took the game to Genoa in the first half with tricky forward Dries Mertens pulling the strings.
Kalidou Koulibaly attempted a spectacular flying volley after 33 minutes that flew wide while Lorenzo Insigne had a right-foot shot tipped over by Genoa keeper Eugenio Lamanna.
Just before halftime, Insigne ran on to a Dries Mertens through pass but could only prod the ball wide under pressure and Lamanna smothered Giaccherini's effort.
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Napoli's Emanuele scores celebrates with teammates after scoring against Genoa
Image credit: Reuters
Napoli went ahead five minutes after the break through Poland midfielder Zielinski who scored with a sweet left-foot strike from just inside the area after a poor clearance.
Mertens soon weaved more magic down the right and made the space to fire a fierce shot at Lamanna who did well to block the Belgian's effort and Amadou Diawara fired the rebound wide.
Giaccherini got the second goal - his first in the league for Napoli since joining from Sunderland - after 68 minutes when Mertens set him up following a mazy burst down the left.
Juventus visit lowly Cagliari on Sunday while Roma travel to second-bottom Crotone. Fourth-placed Lazio, who are seven points behind Roma, host AC Milan on Monday.
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