Napoli’s Osimhen hospitalised with head trauma post loss to Atalanta

MILAN: Napoli forward Victor Osimhen was stretchered off ater suffering a knock to the head in Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Atalanta in Serie A.

Atalanta moved fourth at the expense of Napoli in a game where all six goals came in the second half in the game played in Bergamo.

Napoli are seventh, three points off the Champions League places, with the pressure on coach Gennaro Gatuso ater also losing their Europa League tie at Granada during the week.

Nigeria striker Osimhen briefly lost consciousness ater hiting his head on the ground ater a Cristian Romero challenge in stoppage time of the game in northern Italy. The 22-year-old was taken to the city’s Papa Giovanni XXIII hospital for tests, according to media reports.

The forward, who joined the club from Lille last summer, had only returned to action last month ater being sidelined for over two months with a shoulder injury and coronavirus.

Despite a promising start to the season he has scored just two goals for the club.

Napoli fell to their third defeat in five league games as Atalanta warmed-up for next week’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid to move fourth in Serie A.

Ater a first half marked only by the red card given to Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, for arguing with the referee for a penalty ater Mateo Pessina went down, the hosts dominated ater the break.

Colombian striker Luis Muriel set up compatriot Duvan Zapata to head in seven minutes ater the break.

Piotr Zielinski pulled Napoli level six minutes later volleying in off a Mateo Politano cross.

Robin Gosens restored Atalanta’s advantage on 64 minutes with Muriel adding a third seven minutes later.

German midfielder Gosens sent the ball into his own net five minutes later as he atempted to head clear but Romero headed in a fourth with 11 minutes to go.

In a later match, Roma were held to a goalless draw, failing to take advantage against 15th-placed 10-man Benevento, who played half an hour a man down ater Kamil Glik’s sending off.

Roma are five points adrit of Milan with both teams going head-to-head in Rome next weekend.

The capital side were also denied a late penalty which was awarded and then overruled ater a VAR viewing.