Osimhen’s classy brace powers Napoli win at Verona

The Nigerian international’s crucial contribution paved the way for Il Partenopei’s 18th league win this term

Victor Osimhen struck a double as Napoli bounced back from a damaging home loss to AC Milan with a narrow 2-1 win at Verona on Sunday. 

Napoli’s title hopes suffered a major hit last week as Luciano Spalletti’s men fell to a 1-0 defeat to A Milan at the Diego Maradona Stadium. But Osimhen put his side back on the title track with an excellent, match-winning performance at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

The club-record signing brought the travelling Napoli fans to their feet in jubilation in the 14th minute, after he glanced a fine header into the net off a Matteo Politano cross.

It was Osimhen’s fifth-headed goal this season despite suffering a facial injury in November and his eighth in the Serie A, making him Napoli’s leading scorer in the competition.

Add that to the four he netted in the Europa League before Barcelona dumped out the Neapolitans and the Super Eagles star’s tally for the season hits 12 goals in 24 appearances.

Osimhen, however, suffered an injury scare ten minutes into the second period as he came off worse from a duel with German defender Koray Gunter. The 23-year-old stayed on the ground for several moments, clutching his shoulder before receiving medical attention.

But Osimhen was not done, and in the 71st minute, the Nigerian international doubled Napoli’s lead, doing brilliantly to connect with Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s squared pass into the box.

A Marco Davide Faraoni header reduced the deficit for the home side, but Napoli held on comfortably against the hosts, who were reduced to ten men for the final quarter.