Napoli secured a vital late victory against Genoa, helping them keep pace with Inter Milan at the top of the table.
Former Manchester United players Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund played key roles in the match.
Hojlund’s two goals ensured that Napoli clinched a tough away win.
Prior to the late winner, McTominay scored from long distance, putting Napoli ahead after Genoa had opened the scoring.
Interestingly, McTominay’s celebration was cut short.
Before his goal, he had asked for “magic spray” for ankle pain, and shortly after scoring, he seemed to struggle with discomfort, which Antonio Conte later referred to as a “gluteal and muscular issue.”
He was substituted at halftime, adding to Napoli’s injury woes.
The second half presented more challenges for Napoli.
A mistake by Buongiorno allowed Lorenzo Colombo to equalize at 2-2, and things worsened when Juan Jesus was sent off for a second yellow card in the 76th minute.
After the match, Conte discussed the ongoing injury concerns at Napoli, highlighting a depleted squad that has forced him to make unexpected tactical changes, according to Goal.
The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona’s treatment room is filled with notable players, including Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, leaving the manager with limited options for substitutions.
Scott McTominay remains available, despite dealing with significant discomfort to help stabilize Napoli’s midfield.
The midfielder recently turned down an offer from a Saudi Arabian club.
After the narrow win over Genoa, Conte updated on McTominay’s condition, saying, “He has a tendon issue that’s been troubling him since the start of the year. It hurts occasionally, but it doesn’t prevent him from playing, though he does so at reduced intensity. I prefer to have a fully fit player rather than risk someone important.”
Conte was candid about the current season, believing it has revealed underlying issues in the squad’s depth.
He stated, “It’s a chaotic season. We need to assess our squad, the transfer market choices we’ve made, and the lack of depth from our youth system. Long-term injuries to De Bruyne and Lukaku, alongside issues with [Andre-Frank Zambo] Anguissa and [Billy] Gilmour, who has had surgery, have also hurt us.”
Conte jokingly mentioned the situation regarding midfielders: “I might need to play soon! Laughing, he added, “I can’t play because of rules, otherwise I would help.”