In-form Osimhen scores as Napoli extend Serie A lead

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was on target for his side as they defeated struggling Salernitana 2-0 to open up a 12-point gap atop the Serie A standings. The 24-year-old striker scored his 13th league goal for his side this season.

Following their drubbing at the hands of an Ademola Lookman-inspired Atalanta last time out, Salernitana were up against the league leaders on their own patch and hoped to stop their march towards the title.

Napoli started the match on the front foot and Osimhen fired an exquisite left-foot volley into the back of the net from a tight angle, only for the assistant’s flag to rule him offside by the tightest of margins.

The Partenopei finally opened the scoring after toiling throughout the first half. Captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo got on the end of a pass from Andre Zambo-Anguissa before smashing home via the crossbar in first half added time to give his side the lead going into the break with his first goal in over a year.

Napoli wasted no time in doubling their advantage as three minutes into the second half, Osimhen bagged his 13th goal in only 15 Serie A appearances this season. The striker reacted quickest to fire home from inside the box after an effort from Eljif Elmas came back off the upright.

Salernitana needed a great save from goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to deny Osimhen a second goal but they could not manage to score a goal of their own at the other end of the pitch.

Napoli claimed all three points from their travels, taking them to 50 points from the first half of the season. Their Scudetto pursuit has been helped by the 15-point deduction slapped on Juventus, one of their competitors. The Partenopei now lead second-place AC Milan by 12 points, having played one game more.