Planning to see Genoa - Napoli in Serie A? Prepare your trip to Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa and plan your ticket purchase for this league football match. The current schedule lists an evening kick-off, so check the latest match and transport information before you travel
Genoa - Napoli: season opener at the Ferraris
Genoa and Napoli open the new Serie A season at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa, in a match that immediately brings together two different opening ambitions. Napoli enter as last season's runners-up and want to remain in the fight at the top, while Genoa are trying to take a step forward after a season finished in 16th place. In the first round, the table does not say anything yet - all 20 clubs start from zero - so the context from last season, preparations and summer changes are more important.
An important note for fans planning their trip: the current Serie A, Genoa and Napoli schedules now list the match kick-off at 20:45 local time, not at 15:00 as stated in the initial event information. It is worth checking the time once again immediately before departure because of possible later changes.
Napoli arrive at the Ferraris with high expectations, while Genoa have the advantage of playing at home in a stadium where the crowd is very close to the pitch. Tickets for this match are in demand among fans.
What is at stake for Genoa and Napoli
Napoli finished the 2025/26 season second with 76 points. Genoa remained in Serie A with 41 points and finished in 16th place. The visitors must immediately show whether they can maintain the standard of a team from the upper part of the table, while Genoa are looking for proof that Daniele De Rossi's team is ready to collect points earlier.
Napoli have also changed their coach. Massimiliano Allegri took charge of the team at the beginning of July and signed a contract until 2029. During preparations it was evident that Napoli can play with a back four, and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said that the team is practising that structure as one of its options.
De Rossi enters the new season with continuity in his work in Genoa. Djibril Sow arrived from Sevilla FC, Mario Mitaj on loan from Al-Ittihad, while Tommaso Baldanzi returned from Roma on a new loan with an obligation to buy. Lorenzo Colombo, who scored 7 goals and added 2 assists last season, committed himself to the club until 2029.
Form before the first round
Pre-season results are not a league prediction, but they show rhythm, available players and the stage the teams are currently at.
Napoli raised their level of play after the opening defeat to Arezzo:
- Napoli 1-3 Arezzo
- Napoli 2-0 Carrarese
- Napoli 2-1 Osasuna
- Napoli 1-1 Celta Vigo
- Napoli 6-2 Aris Thessaloniki
In their latest match Napoli scored six times, with Amir Rrahmani, Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne twice and Lorenzo Lucca twice among the scorers. Rasmus Højlund started at the head of the attack, while De Bruyne and Lucca came on from the bench.
Genoa had a more inconsistent run. They beat Trento 2-1, drew 2-2 with L.R. Vicenza and defeated Leicester City 1-0 thanks to a Colombo goal. In a joint training match with Bournemouth, played across four 30-minute periods and with two different line-ups, they conceded ten goals in total while scoring one. They then lost 0-1 to Real Club Deportivo at the Ferraris.
Before the league opener, Genoa also have a cup match against Ascoli, scheduled for 16 August. At the time of this analysis that match has not yet been played, so its result is not included in the assessment of form.
Players who can decide the match
For Napoli, the first major focal point in attack is Rasmus Højlund. The club activated the conditions for his permanent move in June after a season in which he scored 16 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions. He provides depth, physical presence and the ability to attack the space behind the defensive line.
Scott McTominay finished last season with 10 league goals and continued making runs from deeper positions during preparations. Alongside him, De Bruyne can change a match with a single pass or shot, while Politano provides width and quality with the final ball.
Genoa will expect a lot from Colombo. His 7 goals and 2 assists are an important return for a team that finished the entire previous league campaign with 41 goals scored. In the victory over Leicester City, Colombo was the player who scored the only goal.
Baldanzi can link midfield and attack in tight spaces. During the spring part of last season he made 8 appearances and recorded 2 assists for Genoa. Sow should add experience and dynamism, while Norton-Cuffy brings energy on the flank and can be important in transition.
Tactical battle
The most interesting question will be whether Genoa can keep Napoli out of the central areas for long enough. Allegri has a midfield with players who can vary the height of their positions and enter the penalty area, so the hosts cannot defend only the first ball. If McTominay or De Bruyne get space on the edge of the penalty area after a loose ball, Genoa can quickly be punished.
Napoli can control the tempo through longer spells of possession, but preparations have also shown a willingness to attack more directly. Højlund can occupy the centre-backs, Politano attack from wide areas, while Di Lorenzo and Spinazzola can push their wide positions higher. Genoa can try to punish that with quick transitions through Baldanzi, Colombo or Vitinha.
For the hosts it is important that the first press is coordinated. Against Leicester City the team had problems under pressure in the first period, while after the break they were more dangerous when they were given more space. Against Napoli such gaps will not appear often, so De Rossi will have to choose the moments for a high press and the moments for a more compact block.
Set pieces are another area worth watching. Napoli received contributions from their defensive line during preparations as well, while Genoa can use the energy of the Ferraris crowd to increase the pressure through a corner or free kick.
Absences and squad status
Napoli do not arrive in Genoa without injury problems. Luca Marianucci injured his left knee against Celta Vigo, and examinations showed a serious injury to the medial collateral ligament. Alessandro Buongiorno underwent surgery on the root of the medial meniscus in his right knee in July and began rehabilitation.
Lorenzo Lucca previously had a minor ankle injury, but his appearance and two goals against Aris Thessaloniki show that he was already able to play, so it makes no sense to list him as a confirmed absentee.
For Genoa the situation is less clear ahead of the league opener. Before the match against Ascoli, the club announced that Meichtry, Nuredini, Traorè and Venturino were working separately, while Havel had returned to group training. Their status for Napoli should only be assessed after the final training sessions.
Head-to-head meetings
Napoli have the better results in recent meetings, but Genoa regularly cause them problems:
- Genoa 2-3 Napoli - 7 February 2026.
- Napoli 2-1 Genoa - 5 October 2025.
- Napoli 2-2 Genoa - 11 May 2025.
- Genoa 1-2 Napoli - 21 December 2024.
- Napoli 1-1 Genoa - 17 February 2024.
In that run Genoa have no wins, Napoli have three victories, and two matches ended in draws. Both teams scored in all five matches. The latest meeting at the Ferraris ended 3-2 for Napoli: Colombo scored for Genoa, while Højlund scored twice for the visitors, including the decisive goal in stoppage time.
Stadio Luigi Ferraris and the atmosphere
Stadio Luigi Ferraris has a capacity of 33,205 spectators, and most seats are covered. The stands are steep and immediately next to the pitch, with no athletics track. Gradinata Nord is traditionally the heart of Genoa's support, and at the beginning of August the club announced that the number of season tickets had passed 20,000.
For visitors, this means they should not expect a calm last-minute arrival. The first league round, a strong visiting team and an evening kick-off create the conditions for a very loud crowd. Seats in the stands are disappearing quickly.
How to get to the stadium
The Ferraris is located in the Marassi district, close to Genova Brignole, the most practical railway point for reaching the stadium. The club states that it is possible to walk from Brignole to the stadium in approximately 10 minutes.
The most useful options for getting there are:
- Train: get off at Genova Brignole and continue on foot or by city bus towards Marassi.
- City bus: the stadium area is served by lines 13, 37, 48, 480 and 482, and for major matches AMT often introduces special services.
- Genova Piazza Principe: continue by train towards Brignole or by bus towards the stadium area.
- Car: the Genova Est exit leads towards the centre and the stadium, but parking restrictions apply around the Ferraris on matchdays.
- Airport: the connection towards Piazza Principe makes it possible to continue towards Brignole and Marassi.
For drivers it is more practical to park farther away from the immediate stadium area and complete the final part of the journey by public transport or on foot. The exact opening time of the gates for Genoa - Napoli has not yet been confirmed in the information available at the time this guide was prepared, so it is sensible to arrive early because of ticket checks and security screenings. It is worth securing tickets in good time.
Genoa for fans arriving from outside the city
Brignole is the simplest reference point because it connects the railway, city buses and pedestrian access to Marassi. The historic centre and harbour are located farther west of the stadium, so a visit to the city and the match can be combined without the need for a car.
After the match, expect a larger number of people moving towards Brignole and the main traffic routes at the same time. AMT publishes special traffic information and additional services for matches at the Ferraris, so it is useful to check the schedule before the match, especially if the return transport has a fixed departure time.
What to expect on the pitch
Napoli enter with greater individual quality and a fresh 6-2 victory in their final pre-season test, but Genoa have several elements that can make the opener uncomfortable: the energy of the Ferraris, Colombo's directness, Baldanzi's creativity and additional strength in midfield with Sow. The key will be whether the hosts can withstand the phases in which Napoli keep the ball and retain enough players for a quick transition.
For Napoli, the first real test of the Allegri era will be controlling the match without unnecessarily opening up space. If the visitors score first, their ability to slow the tempo could be decisive. If Genoa score first, the Ferraris can turn the match into a more nervous and physically demanding contest than the difference in last season's table suggests.
Ticket sales for this match are under way, and fans travelling to Genoa should follow the current kick-off time, traffic information and the latest team news.
Sources:
- Lega Serie A - current Genoa - Napoli kick-off time, information about the first round, the final 2025/26 table and head-to-head results.
- SSC Napoli - schedule, appointment of Massimiliano Allegri, pre-season matches, Højlund's permanent transfer and medical information on Marianucci and Buongiorno.
- Genoa CFC - schedule and preparations, results against Leicester City, Bournemouth and Real Club Deportivo, information on Colombo, Baldanzi, Sow and Mitaj, as well as information about Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
- AMT Genova - public transport lines and special traffic arrangements for matches at Stadio Luigi Ferraris.