Napoli beat Genoa 2-0 as De Bruyne inspires victory

Napoli only kicked into gear once Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench, scoring one goal amid Genoa protests and setting up the other for Antonio Vergara.

The Partenopei made their competitive debut under new coach Max Allegri, but without any new signings in the line-up , as Benoit Badiashile only completed his transfer from Chelsea today. Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci were long-term absentees, with Kevin De Bruyne , David Neres and Pasquale Mazzocchi not fully fit either. Genoa missed Hamed Traore, Lorenzo Venturino and Elias Havel, while Franz-Ethan Meichtry was only ready for the bench.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of Napoli before the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) Alex Meret almost gifted a goal in the opening minutes with a weak pass out from the back, but Vitinha drilled just wide on the rebound, then Tommaso Baldanzi’s chest and volley was deflected off target at the near post.

Vitinha tested Meret and Alisson Santos first rolled just past Rasmus Hojlund, then went for goal himself drilling just wide at the near post.

Scott McTominay hit one from distance for Justin Bijlow to smother, but Napoli stepped up a gear when Allegri made his first changes, including De Bruyne.

GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Stanislav Lobotka of Napoli and Vitinha of Genoa react during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) Hojlund at full stretch couldn’t quite connect with the McTominay roll across from the right, then Alessandro Marcandalli flung himself in the path of a Stanislav Lobotka rocket.

Genoa threatened when Junior Messias went on the counter-attack and was blocked off by Spinazzola, it fell kindly for Sebastian Otoa to fire onto the side-netting.

However, moments later it was Napoli who took the lead amid controversy. De Bruyne completed a give and go with Antonio Vergara’s back-heel flick, and Johan Vasquez tried to shield the ball, but wasn’t strong enough to resist the nudge in the back, allowing the Belgian to fire in undisturbed from seven yards. Genoa were furious, feeling it was a foul, but Vasquez seemed to assume the free kick would arrive.

GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Johan Vasquez of Genoa is challenged by Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) Napoli doubled their lead soon after and Vergara was again involved. This time he sparked the counter-attack to send De Bruyne down the right, the roll across went past Lorenzo Lucca, but Vergara was ready to steer it back towards goal from a tricky angle. Otoa tried to clear off the line, but got it wrong and failed to stop the ball entering the net.

Genoa 0-2 Napoli De Bruyne 82 (N), Vergara 87 (N)

22-08-2026 19:45

MatchDay 1

Stadio Luigi Ferraris

Genoa

Napoli

0 - 2

Player statistic

Leo Östigard

-5'

Stefano Sabelli

-5'

2nd half

54'

Matteo Politano

82'

Kevin De Bruyne (Assist: Antonio Vergara)

87'

Antonio Vergara (Assist: Kevin De Bruyne)

Genoa

Napoli

Starting lineups

1

Justin Bijlow Goalkeeper

27

Alessandro Marcandalli Defender

15

Brooke Norton-Cuffy Defender

22

Johan Vásquez Defender

5

Leo Östigard Defender

66'

4

Amorim Midfielder

75'

32

Morten Frendrup Midfielder

8

Tommaso Baldanzi Midfielder

66'

29

Lorenzo Colombo Attacker

74'

77

Mikael Egill Ellertsson Attacker

9

Vitinha Attacker

87'

1

Alex Meret Goalkeeper

13

Amir Rrahmani Defender

22

Giovanni Di Lorenzo Defender

37

Leonardo Spinazzola Defender

Rafa Marín Defender

81'

99

Frank Anguissa Midfielder

67'

8

Scott McTominay Midfielder

68

Stanislav Lobotka Midfielder

27

Alisson Santos Attacker

66'

21

Matteo Politano Attacker

67'

19

Rasmus Højlund Attacker

78'

Substitutes

20

Stefano Sabelli Defender

39

Daniele Sommariva Goalkeeper

2

Mario Mitaj Defender

3

Aarón Martín Defender

99

Franz Stolz Goalkeeper

71

Samuel Wiafe Midfielder

74

Mamedi Doucouré Defender

31

David Puczka Defender

10

Junior Messias Attacker

66'

34

Sebastian Otoa Defender

66'

11

Franz-Ethan Meichtry Midfielder

74'

97

Djibril Sow Midfielder

75'

80

Adam Zulevic Attacker

87'

14

Nikita Contini Goalkeeper

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić Goalkeeper

6

Billy Gilmour Midfielder

7

David Neres Attacker

Costantino Favasuli Midfielder

31

Sam Beukema Defender

23

Giovane Attacker

Christian Garofalo Defender

Noa Lang Attacker

66'

26

Antonio Vergara Midfielder

67'

11

Kevin De Bruyne Midfielder

67'

Lorenzo Lucca Attacker

78'

17

Mathías Olivera Defender

81'