Serie A: Ebuehi’s Empoli hand Osimhen’s Napoli big title boost, Okereke’s penalty earns Cremonese first point in 2023

Here is Soccernet.ng’s major highlight of the matches involving Nigerian stars in Europe on Monday, January 23.

Super Eagles defender, Tyronne Ebuehi was among the best player on the pitch as Empoli stunned title hopefuls Inter Milan 1-0 at the San Siro in a matchday 19 meeting of the 2022/23 season.

Aided in no small part by Ebuehi’s defensive contributions, which included seven clearances and one blocked shot, Empoli kept a clean sheet in one of the toughest grounds in the Italian top flight.

It is only the first time since Sassuolo managed the same last February that any team will prevent Inter from scoring in front of their home fans.

The result will be celebrated in Naples just as much as it delights Empoli as it leaves Victor Osimhen and Napoli a further step ahead of their title rivals.

Inter Milan’s defeat leaves the former champions in third place, 13 points behind leaders Napoli who had little difficulty in dispatching Salernitana 2-0 at the weekend. Osimhen scored his 13th Serie A goal of the campaign in that encounter.

At the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in Bologna, David Okereke netted a penalty but it was not enough to earn Cremonese the maximum points in their 1-1 draw with their hosts.

Okereke handed the visitors the lead five minutes into the second half, outwitting goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski from the penalty spot.

But Romanian defender Vlad Chiricheș scored an own goal a few moments later to deny Cremonese, sat at the foot of the league table, a crucial three points.

The shared point is the first that Cremonese will pick up in 2023 after losing their first three games to Juventus, Verona, and Monza.