Napoli moves top after ending Genoa's run
Napoli took full advantage of Atalanta's day off to leapfrog La Dea to the Serie A summit with a 2-1 victory over Genoa at Stadio Comunale Luigi Ferraris.
With Atalanta not playing until Monday (AEDT), Antonio Conte's side took its chance to hit the top as first-half headers from Frank Anguissa and Amir Rrahmani.
The Partenopei broke the deadlock after a quarter of an hour, as Anguissa rose to nod home David Neres' cross.
It was 2-0 just eight minutes later, with Rrahmani meeting Stanislav Lobotka's deep cross, and looping a header over Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali.
The hosts responded six minutes after the break to halve the deficit, as Vitinha cut the ball back for Andrea Pinamonti to slot home.
Genoa pushed for the equaliser later on. Substitutes Mario Balotelli and Caleb Ekuban were denied by Alex Meret, who preserved all three points for Conte's side.
Despite its best efforts towards the end, Genoa suffered a first defeat in eight matches and first under coach Patrick Vieira.
As for Napoli's boss, Conte chalked up his 150th victory in Serie A as a manager.
His win success rate of 71 per cent with the Partenopei is only lower than his 73 per cent among the clubs he has managed across the Italian top flight and Premier League.
He was left frustrated by Napoli despite the victory here.
"If you only see the result and three points, you don't build anything," he said. "Our first half was our best of the season, and I really did not expect the second half to be like that. Maybe, I felt it in the locker room at half-time.
"The players need to realise they must play from start to finish, with their foot on the gas at all times. I did not like a single thing about the second half. Defend by attacking, that has to be our mantra.
"I have players who know where they need to improve, and they will go home disappointed today at almost throwing away three points.
"If we want to have the least bit of ambition and be up there causing trouble for the top spots, then we need to be on it for 95 minutes."
Vieira was still pleased with his side's efforts despite suffering a first loss in charge at the club.
"We showed that we could play good football but, in the end, we did not take any points," he said. "After the game, I told the boys that if we continue to do as we did in the second half, we will win more games.
"It was a first half where we didn't play the way we wanted to play. But I think the quality of the opponent also put the team in difficulty.
"In the second half, we were more aggressive, we grew, and I think the team deserved the point. I feel sorry for the players."
