Osimhen, Lookman trade blows as Napoli edge Atalanta to extend unbeaten run

Super Eagles duo Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were in the thick of the action as Napoli claimed a 2-1 win over Atalanta in their Serie A Matchday 13 clash. The win for the Partenopei sent them eight points clear of second-place Atalanta in the Italian top-flight.

After hitting a hat-trick in his previous Serie A match, Osimhen came up against his fellow Super Eagle Lookman, who has settled into life in Italy perfectly. The duo were on the scoresheet for their respective sides in the match at the Gewiss Stadium.

Atalanta took the lead after only 19 minutes through the in-form Lookman after Osimhen conceded a penalty. Lookman stepped up to fire home from the spot and put Atalanta ahead with his sixth goal of the season.

Osimhen took matters into his own hands after he cost his side a penalty and equalised only four minutes later. A short corner routine resulted in Piotr Zielinski standing up a cross to the far post where the Nigerian striker towered over Atalanta’s defenders to head home his eighth goal of the season.

Osimhen turned provider ten minutes before half-time as Napoli took the lead for the first time in the game. The lanky striker made use of his tall frame to bamboozle three Atalanta defenders before putting the ball on a plate for Eljif Elmas, who made no mistake as he stroked home from inside the box in the 35th minute.

Neither side scored in the second half as the match ended with Napoli claiming an important three points. The Partenopei have now claimed 35 points from their opening 13 matches in Serie A this season, and are eight points clear of second-place Atalanta on the league table. Luciano Spalletti’s men delivered the perfect response to their midweek defeat at the hands of Liverpool in the Champions League.

Osimhen has become the outright best Nigerian goalscorer to ever feature in Serie A after scoring his 32nd goal which took him above Simy Nwankwo’s previous record of 31 goals.