Perfect Napoli reclaim top spot
Nigerian Osimhen scores ‘ most important goal’ of career
Napoli returned to the top of Serie A on Sunday after Nigerian international Victor Osimhen scored the only goal in a hard- fought 1- 0 win against Torino.
AC Milan had moved to the top of the table after battling back from two goals down to beat Hellas Verona 3- 2 at the San Siro on Saturday.
But Napoli moved back to the summit after Osimhen, who had scored for his country in a 2- 0 win against the Central African Republic in World Cup qualifying last week, headed the 81st- minute winner.
Lorenzo Insigne’s weak fi rst- half penalty was saved and Mexico international Hirving Lozano hit the post before Osimhen made the most of an attempted clearance that ricocheted off teammate Eljif Elmas.
“It was the most important goal of my career,” said Osimhen.
“I’m so pleased. The atmosphere at the stadium was incredible. The fans pushed us forward and we managed to get the three points.
He added, “We never gave up, we attacked until the end and deserved the win. I saw the ball fl y up and I thought I could get there before the defenders. I connected well and scored such an important goal for me and the team.”
Napoli have 24 points, two more than AC Milan, after equaling the best start in club history, having also won their fi rst eight games in 2017- 18.
Reigning champions Inter Milan are on 17 points after losing ground following a 3- 1 defeat away to Lazio on Saturday.
Juventus continued their climb following a disastrous start as Moise Kean’s fi rst- half goal clinched a 1- 0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
Wojciech Szczesny saved a penalty from Roma midfi elder Jordan Veretout just before halftime as Juventus made it four wins on the bounce, moving up to seventh.
Roma remain fourth but have lost three of their past fi ve outings. “I like 1- 0, as it’s a good result, especially as we kept another clean sheet,” Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri told DAZN.
Atalanta were easy 4- 1 winners against Empoli on Sunday as they warmed up to take on Manchester United at Old Traff ord in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Veteran Slovenian forward Josip Ilicic, recalled to the team after suff ering from a combination of a knee injury and severe depression, scored the opener and his fi rst goal of the season when he was well served by Joakim Maehle on 10 minutes.
Ilicic, 33, got his second with a rasping shot on 26 minutes but Federico di Francesco pulled a goal back for the home side.
Four minutes into the second half, Atalanta took a 3- 1 lead when 19- year- old Empoli defender Mattia Viti scored an own goal before the visitors wrapped up the win when Colombian forward Duvan Zapata got his 100th Serie A goal.
The team from Bergamo now head to northwest England to face United, who were beaten 4- 2 at Leicester on Saturday, in Champions League Group F.