Rasmus Hojlund returns to where it all began, wearing the Napoli jersey, ready to play a match that's worth much more than just three points. On the eve of the Champions League match against Copenhagen, the Danish striker doesn't hide his excitement but keeps his eyes firmly on the goal. "It's always special to return to this stadium. I scored my first professional goal here, and I also scored against United," he told Sky Sport.
The match is a delicate one, with the two teams tied in the standings and still in the hunt for qualification. "It'll be a great match; we have the same number of points in the group. They have a lot of quality, they're very united, and then there's Cornelius, who's a fearsome striker," explains Hojlund, who doesn't shy away from the topic of goals but rejects any individualism. "I hope to get back to scoring tomorrow, but it's not important. Sometimes we don't score: the important thing is that Napoli scores."
Romelu Lukaku has also returned to the Azzurri squad, a presence Hojlund enthusiastically welcomes. "It's very important to have him back at this time. He brings experience, quality, and impact, especially at such a delicate stage of the season," emphasizes the Danish striker, aware of how much the Champions League requires leadership as well as talent.
There's also time for a comparison between the two coaches who shaped his career in Italy. "They're both great coaches, very passionate and very tactical," he says, speaking of Gian Piero Gasperini and Antonio Conte. Then, a smile accompanies a quip that captures the mood. "The biggest difference is that Gasperini doesn't speak English, while Conte does."
Emotion, yes, and nostalgia too, but without losing focus. "It's always a special feeling to return home. I scored here against Copenhagen and Manchester United," Hojlund reiterates. "Tomorrow will be a great match. I hope to help the team, but the only thing that really matters is winning."
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 (1)
It's a little strange to see Rasmus back where it all began, but it's also nice. Tomorrow's match will be important for everyone, but I hope we don't lose sight of the ultimate goal: winning the match.