Genoa scored an 84th-minute equaliser to earn a point against high-flying Napoli in their Serie A encounter at Stadio San Paolo this evening.

The hosts almost made a perfect start to the match when Gonzalo Higuain picked up the ball on the edge of the box in the third minute before turning and curling an effort just past the post.

They came close again five minutes later, this time through Dries Mertens as he cut inside from the left before curling an effort towards the top corner that Mattia Perin had to save.

Mertens threatened once more shortly afterwards, again cutting inside from the flank before firing a shot towards goal, but this time his effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

Napoli's early pressure finally paid off in the 18th minute when Higuain raced on to Marek Hamsik's pass before chipping the ball over Perin and into the back of the net.

The visitors almost came up with a quick response with two chances in as many minutes, first Luca Antonelli nodding an effort just over before Moussa Konate slid the ball past Pepe Reina, only for Federico Fernandez to clear it off the line.

Napoli went straight up the other end and almost doubled their lead through Higuain again, but this time his effort moved just wide of the post.

Mertens came close yet again shortly after the half-hour mark, but his powerful shot narrowly missed the target once more.

Genoa responded with a chance of their own just three minutes later as Antonelli whipped the ball into Konate following a fine team move, but the striker's header was straight at Reina.

The visitors came close again 20 minutes after the restart when Konate turned provider, slipping the ball into Giuseppe Sculli, who curled his effort just past the post.

They did finally grab an equaliser with just six minutes of normal time left, however, as loanee Emanuele Calaio bent a fine 25-yard free kick in off the post to rescue a point for his side against his parent club.