Victor Osimhen reaches new Napoli heights in Sassuolo rout

The Nigeria international ran the Sassuolo defenders ragged in an unprecedented display for Il Partenopei

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen set a new personal mark to lead Napoli to a convincing 4-0 win over Sassuolo at the Diego Maradona Stadium on Saturday.

Osimhen scored his first hat trick since joining Napoli for an African club record as the Neapolitans kept up their scintillating winning streak.

Benched for Napoli’s midweek straightforward win over Glasgow Rangers, Osimhen returned to the starting lineup in the Italian Serie A fixture.

And the Nigerian forward underlined his importance to the team by scoring Napoli’s first two goals off fine assists from Georgian teammate Khvara.

Osimhen netted the first in the fourth minute, showing good athleticism to bring a cross under control before nudging past the Sassuolo goalkeeper.

The former Lille lad made it two-nil moments later, connecting firmly with a cute cut-back to hand Napoli the lead.

Khvara’s brilliance was rewarded with a goal nine minutes before the halftime break. And Osimhen completed his first three-goal haul for Il Partenopei midway through the second half with an expert chip over the goalkeeper.

Since returning from the injury he sustained in September, Osimhen has now scored in four consecutive matches for Napoli.

Osimhen found the net against Ajax, Bologna, and Roma before Saturday’s haul against Sassuolo, in what is also the 23-year-old’s first career hat trick.

With the win, Napoli momentarily go six points clear at the top of the Italian Serie A table.