UEFA CL: Genk HOLD Napoli at the Cristal Arena Stadium - Genk 0 - 0 Napoli

Genk settled on a goaless draw with Napoli at the Cristal Arena Stadium on Wednesday evening in the Week 2 UEFA Champions League encounter.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side won their first game against Liverpool by 2-0 at the Stadio San Paolo as Red Bull defeated Salzburg by 6-2.

 

 

 

 

Napoli looked like a 4-2-3-1 configuration side with Fabián Ruiz and Callejón on the wings and Lozano played in deeper to link midfield and attack. The versatility of many of their players gave Ancelotti plenty of options.

 

 

Genk started strongly and put a lot of energy to prevent the Napoli build up. They weren’t exactly unbeatable at the back after keeping just two clean sheets so far this season, in the home games against Liverpool and Sampdoria.

Lucumi missed the first early target for the home side. Hagi floated in a delightful centre from the left but Lucumí, under close attention from Koulibaly, was unable to get the connection on the cross he would like and powered a header out of play.

Napoli gradually warmed into the game in the 12-minute with their crosses towards Lozano and Milik. Manolas almost put the home side ahead but was unable to repeat his goalscoring heroics from the weekend, when he miscued his acrobatic effort following Mário Rui's corner, which found the defender unmarked in the centre of the penalty box. The ball was cleared from the danger zone.

 

 

The Italians kept pushing the home side for first goal of the game.

Two golden opportunities were spurned in the 15-minute by Napoli to take the lead. A Mário Rui's cross from the left was diverted across goal by a Genk defender, which fell kindly for Callejón. A diving Coucke turned his low, right-footed effort onto the woodwork. Milik was unable to divert the rebound from his blocked follow-up into the net. He grazed the bar with his second attempt whilst on the floor.

Genk tried to stabilize the game for a breather but Napoli’s intensed pressing was a danger for the home team. Napoli recovered the ball from the goal line clearance and Fabián Ruiz's left-footed centre into the box was headed into the path of Milik by Koulibaly, as the Polish international crashed another effort against the bar.

 

 

Koulibaly shot at goal was obstructed from falling into the net by a Genk defender in the 37-minute. Callejón delivered a corner, which diverted into the path of Koulibaly. He controlled the ball with his knee before spinning and firing a right-footed volley towards goal, which was acrobatically cleared off the line by Hrošovský. Genk fans held their breath, when their former hero Koulibaly’s attempt was stopped on the line.

The home side recovered the ball following Napoli's goal kick and Ito laid it off to Bongonda, whose curling effort from long-range swerved just wide of the upright. The first half was brought to a close, with both sides unfortunate to be goalless. The hosts grew stronger as the half wore on, finding Meret in inspired form. 

The visitors got proceedings under way again, showing some purpose with Ancelotti's team talk undoubtedly ringing in their ears after the home side dominated the final exchanges of the first half. 

 

 

Milik’s impressive form from the break continued with a shot on target. Substitute Malcuit collected a cross-field pass, before playing a one-two with Callejón and scampered down the right. He delivered a pinpoint cross for Milik, who beat the defender to the centre, but could not keep his header down.

Genk kept their possession intact and elevated their game in the Napoli half. Hrošovský's superb delivery from just outside the area picked out Hagi, who was standing between two defenders, but the Romanian international was unable to keep his header down. Napoli were incisive down the Genk right once again, with Coucke alert enough to palm away Lozano's low cross, with Llorente lurking in the area.

The home side squandered a glorious opportunity in the 84-minute. Allan slipped trying to clear Ito's deflected cross following a crispy pass down the Genk right, which allows the ball to reach the unmarked Hagi. The Romanian midfielder guided his right-footed effort high and wide of Meret's goal.

 

 

With three minutes additional time played, the game ended in a draw.