On Tuesday, Napoli defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 encounter, with Victor Osimhen scoring for the eighth time in a row.
Osimhen scored Napoli's first goal in the 40th minute, and Giovanni Di Lorenzo clinched the important away victory with another goal in the second half.
Osimhen began his professional career in Germany after being recruited by Wolfsburg after succeeding at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Due to a lack of playing time, the Nigerian striker struggled in Germany before moving on to greener pastures overseas.
On Wednesday, Osimhen returned to Germany with a bang, scoring a goal that has boosted Napoli's prospects of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.
Osimhen had gained a penalty kick for Napoli before breaking the tie, but it was saved by Kvaratskhelia in the 36th minute.
Soon after, Stanislav Lobotka intercepted a pass in midfield and sent Lozano down the right, where he crossed for Osimhen to tap in from four yards.
Frankfurt had a player sent off early in the second half, and Napoli capitalized with a well-worked goal.
Kvaratskhelia made apologies for his penalty miss by assisting Lorenzo, who bent it first-time into the far bottom corner from just inside the box.
In what has been an incredible season, the Partenopei are in cruise control at the top of Serie A with a 15-point advantage over Inter and only one defeat, while winning five of six Champions’ League group games.
Napoli has started the knockout phase with the same vigour, and it would be foolish to bet against them reaching the semi-finals, if not winning the title, this season.
No comments: