Napoli failed to capitalize on an opportunity to extend their lead atop Serie A, twice surrendering advantages in a 2-2 draw against Genoa at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The result allows second-place Inter Milan to close the gap to just a single point in the title race.
Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring for Napoli in the 15th minute, finishing off a well-weighted pass from Scott McTominay. However, Genoa equalized in the 32nd minute when Honest Ahanor`s header deflected off Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret for an own goal.
Giacomo Raspadori restored Napoli`s lead in the 64th minute with a powerful left-footed strike, again assisted by McTominay. But Genoa refused to go away, as Johan Vasquez headed home an Aaron Martin cross in the 84th minute to secure a valuable point for the visitors.
The draw represents a missed opportunity for Napoli, who knew of Inter`s result against Torino before kickoff. Napoli dominated possession (59%) and outshot Genoa 22-8, but were unable to make their superiority count on the scoreboard.
Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri will be concerned by his team`s inability to protect leads, especially at home. With the title race tightening, Napoli cannot afford many more slip-ups if they hope to claim their first Scudetto since 1990.
For Genoa, the resilient performance and valuable away point boosts their hopes of avoiding relegation. Manager Alberto Gilardino will be pleased with his team`s fighting spirit and ability to capitalize on limited opportunities.
The result sets up a thrilling finish to the Serie A season, with Napoli and Inter now separated by just a single point at the top of the table with three matches remaining. Football fans across Italy will be eagerly anticipating the dramatic conclusion to one of the most exciting title races in recent memory.