Napoli Reclaims Serie A Lead After Bologna Win
Napoli continued its brilliant start to the Italian Serie A season as they reclaimed the top spot after a 3-0 win against Bologna at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples.
Nigerian international Victor Osimhen started up front for Napoli, with Lorenzo Insigne and Hirving Lozano supporting on the flanks. The visitors had Gambia international Musa Barrow in attack and were hoping to cause an upset.
Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a left footed shot into the top corner from outside the box, giving goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski no chance.
In the 41st minute, a penalty was awarded to Napoli after a VAR decision confirmed Chilean centre-back Gary Medel had handled the ball in the area under pressure from Osimhen.
Captain Insigne stepped up and doubled Napoli’s lead from the penalty spot just before halftime.
In the second half, the hosts kept the pressure up as they were looking to extend the lead as the Diego Armando Maradona crowd roared on.
After Osimhen was fouled in the box, Napoli were awarded another penalty and Insigne stepped up once more to dispatch his spot-kick into the bottom left hand corner.
That made up for several missed penalties by Insigne this season as the captain had redeemed himself. The match finished 3-0 and Napoli have recorded nine wins and a draw from 10 games.
“I’ve missed a few but I’m always ready to take them,” Insigne said. “It was important to respond to Milan after their victory on Tuesday.”
Thursday’s result extended its unbeaten run at home in the Serie A to 16 games.
Napoli are on 28 points at the top of Serie A, level with AC Milan, but have a superior goal difference of +19 compared to Milan’s goal difference of +14. Bologna dropped to 12th in the standings.
Chidi Nwoke/Serie A.
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