Napoli beat Cremona with authority and are back on track in the league. The 2-0 win was scored by Rasmus Hojlund, the star of the night at the Zini, and reflects a team that refuses to stop after the trophies already in their cabinet.
“It's not very often that I score a brace with my right foot.”, Hojlund told Dazn, exuding satisfaction and clarity. The Italian striker got straight to the point: “These three points that we bring to Naples are very important.” Then the gaze broadens to the context and value of the group: "Every season has its own story: now I'm playing with really strong players, like Politano. He's a very strong player who sometimes tends to lose his value."
Politano himself, one of the team's most consistent performers, captures Napoli's current moment and the weight of a victory that comes at the close of a special year. “For all Napoli fans and for us players, it was a 2025 to remember, during which we brought home two trophies.”, says the attacking winger. The ambition remains intact: “In the new year we want to continue with this desire and consistency to win again.”
There is also room for a personal assessment that is intertwined with the collective one. “I think I've matured a lot from a tactical point of view in the last year and a half.”, adds Politano, “I'm happy to have found continuity, the understanding with Neres and the new formation.” Clear signs of a Napoli that is growing, running and relaunching its ambitions.
Como will face Inter in the Coppa Italia semifinal. At the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, the Como team eliminated Napoli after a lengthy penalty shootout, ending 7-6 after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. Butez's decisive save on Lobotka's final spot kick ended the Azzurri's dream and gave Fabregas' team a historic achievement.
The match had been deadlocked for long stretches, with both teams more concerned with keeping their opponents out of the way than with striking. The deadlock was shattered by an incident in the 36th minute, when Smolcic went down in the penalty area after a collision with Olivera. Referee Manganiello pointed to the spot, and Baturina made no mistake, calmly scoring the score to 0-1. Toward the end of the half, Napoli protested for a challenge on Hojlund on the edge of the penalty area, but the referee let it go.
Rasmus Hojlund stepped up to the spot in injury time and showed no signs of faltering, giving Napoli a crucial victory against Genoa. After the match, the Italian striker described those tense moments as follows: "Winning in the last minute is truly incredible. The penalty was a huge responsibility, but I like taking it."
These words capture the personality of a center forward who doesn't shy away from crucial moments. "I'm very happy she came in, even though I have a bit of training to do. I was also a bit lucky," he admits honestly, without seeking excuses or forced heroics.
A thrilling evening at Marassi gave Napoli a comeback victory over Genoa, decided in the 94th minute by a penalty converted by Hojlund, nearly saved by goalkeeper Bjlow. The thrilling match saw the Rossoblu take the lead in the third minute through Malinovskyi's penalty, the result of a mistake by Buongiorno and a risky exit by Meret, which the referee, after a VAR review, ruled a foul.
Napoli responded with determination: in the 20th minute, Hojlund leveled the score with a tap-in following McTominay's diagonal shot, and in the 22nd minute, McTominay himself struck a long-range masterpiece to turn the score around. The game, however, remained wide open: in the 57th minute, Colombo equalized for Genoa, capitalizing on a second mistake by Buongiorno, making for a thrilling finale.
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Comments (2)
Yes, but I don't understand if they can keep up this high pace. The team seems strong, but there are always surprises in the championship, so we'll see how it goes.
Napoli had a great win against Cremona. Hojlund scored a brace, and Politano is a strong player. But I hope they continue to win in their next matches.