Napoli have failed to move to the top of Serie A after being held to a frustrating goalless draw at Genoa this afternoon.
The visitors were first to threaten when Jose Callejon created some space to shoot outside the box, before curling in a low strike that was pushed behind by Mattia Perin.
© Getty Images
Dries Mertens was next to try his luck for Napoli when he burst into the box and flashed an effort beyond the keeper and inches wide of the far post.
Maurizio Sarri's side continued to dominate and on the stroke of half time Gonzalo Higuain dragged a low effort wide of the target from inside the box.
Napoli did manage to find the back of the net minutes after the restart, but Kalidou Koulibaly's strike was ruled out for an offside as he followed up from a parried Mertens strike.
Higain then saw a dangerous strike blocked, before Callejon fired wide, as the visitors kept up the pressure on their opponents' goal.
Genoa began to sense that they could steal a late winner and Diogo Figueiras tried his luck from range with an effort that was hit straight at Pepe Reina.
However, within minutes the hosts almost fell behind as Marek Hamsik latched onto Lorenzo Insigne's chipped ball over the top, before seeing his volley towards the bottom corner turned wide by Perin.
In stoppage time Napoli nearly snatched the win, but Manolo Gabbiadini's stinging free kick was beaten away by Perin, before the keeper saved from Insigne, as they were forced to settle for a single point.
Alex Meyers
