Napoli were held to a 2-2 draw by Genoa at the Stadio Maradona on Sunday night.
Napoli took the lead after 15 minutes with Romelu Lukaku making a run in behind to collect a pass from Scott McTominay and finishing with aplomb.
Genoa equalised just after the 30-minute mark when Honest Anahor headed home. Halfway into the second half Giacomo Raspadori scored with a powerful, precise left-footed shot after a brilliant first touch in the box.
Genoa sealed the draw just a few minutes from time with a header by Johan Vasquez
Here are Antonio Conte’s comments on the match:
“We’re very disappointed about how it ended but we have to accept the result. This is what football is about - anything can happen. The team did a good job in terms of the effort made, pressure, ball possession and shots on goal.
“I don’t think we deserved a draw, but at the same time we need to know that we’ve blown an advantage we had. We needed seven points and now we need to win the two remaining matches.”
“We also lost [Stanislav] Lobotka but we didn’t complain and we will try to find the best solutions to try to reach a goal that would be extraordinary.
“The team would deserve it and so would the people of Naples, who have always supported us with great passion and enthusiasm. We’re disappointed at the moment but we need to keep going and thank these players.”
Giovanni Di Lorenzo also analysed Napoli’s performance:
“Of course we’re sad. It’s a pity to lose like this but this is what football is about and we know we can still win even after this draw.
“We must remember that by winning the two final matches we will clinch the league title. Ours has been an outstanding performance this year and we want to stay focused in this final part of the season.”
Matteo Politano had the following to say:
“We are still the masters of our destiny. It’s too bad they drew right in the end, but it’s all still in our hands.
“Now we must move on immediately and focus on the next match. We can achieve something amazing and it’s all up to us. It’s all in our hands and we want to give it our all starting from the next training session to stay top of the league."
Napoli 2-2 Genoa (HT 1-1)
Scorers: Lukaku 15, Meret OG 32, Raspadori 64, Vasquez 84
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Olivera, Spinazzola, Politano (Neres 88'), Anguissa, Lobotka (Gilmour 13), McTominay, Lukaku, Raspadori (Billing 80).
Coach: Conte.
Genoa: Siegrist; Sabelli (Zanoli), Otoa (Bani 68), Vasquez, Ahanor (Venturino 78), Frendrup, Masini, Norton-Cuffy, Messias (Aanor 60), Vitinha (Kasa 68), Pinamonti.
Coach: Vieira.
Referee: Piccinini (Forli).
Booked: Vasquez, Vitinha, Billing.
