Blunt Napoli held to goalless draw by Genk

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:20 am

Napoli paid the price for playing a weakened side as they dropped Champions League points in 0-0 draw away at Racing Genk on Wednesday.

After beating holders Liverpool in their opening Group E game, coach Carlo Ancelotti left out Lorenzo Insigne and dropped Dries Mertens to the bench against the Belgian champions, who had conceded six goals in their opener against Salzburg.

Arkadiusz Milik made only his second start of the season in attack and his rustiness showed as he struck the woodwork twice and missed three more good chances from close range as the home side led a charmed life in front of their own supporters.

Napoli and Genk played to a scoreless draw.
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Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who moved from Genk to Napoli five years ago, had an effort from a corner cleared off the line just before halftime while captain Jose Callejon missed from close range early in the second half.

Mertens, one goal shy of equalling Diego Maradona's record of 115 for Napoli, was brought on just before the hour mark and took 15 minutes to get into the game before being denied with two quick efforts.

With seven minutes left, a slip in the Napoli defence presented Ianis Hagi, son of the Romanian great Gheorghe, a chance to score, but he fired his effort over from inside the penalty area.