Scott McTominay nets wonder goal for Napoli but Man Utd loanee Rasmus Hojlund steals show in some style

The Scudetto holders were made to work at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday night, conceding an early goal and then being pegged back when 2-1 up. However, Gli Azzurri remain in third place in Italy’s top flight and are six points behind leaders Internazionale, who are away at Sassuolo on Sunday.

Napoli have not been as impervious as they were last season under manager Antonio Conte, not helped by a raft of injuries to key players. Scotland internationalist McTominay did not play the full match, coming off at half time, with Conte admitting afterwards that he has an injury issue.

“He has been dealing with a tendon inflammation, between his glute and his hamstring,” said Conte. “It’s a problem he has been carrying around since the start of the year. It hurts but doesn’t prevent him from playing, even though he has to slow down at times.

“He wanted to continue, but I preferred to put in a player who is at 100 per cent rather than go and take stupid risks, since he is fundamental for us. We hope he’ll recover quickly.”

McTominay’s compatriot and former Rangers academy graduate Billy Gilmour was again absent due to injury.

Genoa took an early lead just three minutes when Ruslan Malinovskyi converted from the penalty spot, but Napoli didn’t take long to reply.

It was their on-loan Manchester United striker Hojlund who got it on 20 minutes, scoring his first Serie A goal of 2026. And then two minutes later, McTominay took the ball in and unleashed a vicious effort from distance that sailed into the bottom corner of the net to give Napoli the lead.

Genoa did not give up and were level on 57 minutes through striker Lorenzo Colombo and Napoli’s cause was hampered further when defender Juan Jesus was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.

The game looked to be heading to a draw, but Napoli were given a penalty in the fifth minutes of stoppage time and Hojlund showed nerves of steel to convert past Genoa keeper Justin Biljow.

Napoli’s next league match is a week on Sunday when they host fourth-placed Roma at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Before that, they face Como at home in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday evening.