Osimhen Shines As Napoli Fight Back To Beat Atalanta 1-2

Osimhen Shines As Napoli Fight Back To Beat Atalanta 1-2

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen took his season goal tally to eight in nine matches despite accidentally gifting Atalanta the opener, but turned it around with a goal and assist for Eljif Elmas, as Napoli fight back to win this top of the table showdown and go eight points clear.

This was a clash between the leaders and the side in second place, who between them had only one Serie A defeat all season. Both had to make changes, as Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Amir Rrahmani didn’t make the trip, while Luis Muriel and Davide Zappacosta were injured. The Partenopei saw their run of 13 consecutive victories in all competitions halted by Liverpool in the Champions League midweek, though they still topped the group.

The hosts had the first chance on three minutes when Super Eagles striker Ademola Lookman rolled across from the left for Rasmus Hojlund, forcing a save one-on-one from Alex Meret.

A corner wreaked absolute havoc including a Osimhen handball before Hojland and Merih Demiral attempts were charged down. VAR intervened and Lookman converted the penalty with a ferocious strike into the near top corner.

However, the Nigerian quickly made up for his mistake by drawing Napoli level, as he was allowed a free header on a Piotr Zielinski floated cross from a short corner.

Napoli turned it around completely as Osimhen broke away from Merih Demiral down the right and pulled it back for Eljif Elmas to take a touch and score from 10 yards.

Hans Hateboer’s volley was charged down at the back stick, but Atalanta came so close on 55 minutes when Alex Meret made the great one-handed save on Joakim Maehle and Lookman’s rebound was deflected onto the crossbar by Matias Olivera.

Hojlund came sliding in to meet another Lookman assist and stumbled at the key moment, while Giovanni Simeone scuffed a finish inches wide.

Kim Min-jae blocked off a Ruslan Malinovskyi strike and the Ukrainian did test Meret from distance, but Atalanta were furious in stoppages at not receiving an obvious corner.