Osimhen’s Napoli Maintains Perfect Start To Serie A Campaign
Napoli came from behind to earn a tough 2-1 victory against Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi stadium in match day 7 of the Italian Serie A on Sunday, ensuring they remain the only side in Europe’s top five leagues with a 100% record this season.
The visitors started with Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen in attack, with Lorenzo Insigne and Hirving Lozano in support as they were hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
The league leaders started sluggishly and were punished in the 28th minute as Lucas Martinez took advantage of some slack marking to fire Fiorentina into a deserved lead.
The opening goal acted as a wake-up call for Napoli as the visitors started to create chances and get a grip of the game. Moments later, a penalty was awarded to Napoli after Osimhen was brought down in the box.
Insigne stepped up and missed the spot kick as goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski brilliantly saved the penalty, but Lozano reacted fastest as he fired the rebound into the net.
Nigerian international Osimhen almost put Napoli ahead before halftime with a spectacular overhead kick, but couldn’t hit the target.
However, the visitors did not have to wait much longer to complete the turnaround, with Amir Rrahmani giving them a 2-1 lead in the 50th minute.
Napoli had chances to extend their advantage but saw the game out to secure a seventh straight win and stay top, two points clear of second-placed AC Milan, who beat Atalanta 3-2.
Fiorentina remain fifth after their third defeat of the season. It is only the second time in Napoli’s history that they have won their opening seven matches of a Serie A campaign, but that was still not enough to please coach Luciano Spalletti.
“We still need to improve, to see out results after battling to be in front,” Spalletti said in an interview.
“This (margin of) victory is small and there was a chance to do better. Some players are still not fully fit. Playing every three days is not easy. We still have a lot to do.”
Serie A results
Bologna 3-0 Lazio
Sampdoria 3-3 Udinese
Verona 4-0 Spezia
Roma 2-0 Empoli
Fiorentina 1-2 Napoli
Atalanta 2-3 AC Milan
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
