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Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen is up and running as Napoli began their Serie A title defence with a win.
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen continued from where he stopped last season after firing Napoli to a win in their Serie A clash against Frosinone at The Stadio Benito Stirpe on Saturday evening.
Osimhen finished last as Serie A’s top scorer with 26 goals and it does not look like he is ready to relinquish the title this season.
The 24-year-old’s goals led Napoli to their first league title in 33 years, and it looks like he is fired up to do the same this season.
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Osimhen, who stayed at Napoli this season despite a mouthwatering offer from Al-Hilal, scored Napoli’s second and third goals to give Rudi Garcia a winning start as the team’s manager.
New season, same Osimhen and Napoli
Napoli came into the game with a new manager Garcia, who replaced last season's title-winning manager and Italy’s new coach Luciano Spalletti.
The Neapolitans were also without Kim Min-jae, who joined Bayern Munich this summer, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, out of the squad.
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It appeared the absence of the key men, who played a part in their title success, would affect them as they got off to a bad start.
Garcia’s men got off to a poor start after Frosinone took the lead from the spot through Abdou Harraoi after new signing Jens Cajuste committed an offence in the box.
Napoli, however, drew level in the 24th minute through Matteo Politano, who fired home from close range.
Politano’s goal gave Napoli a lift and they thought they had the lead when Giacomo Raspodori fired in an assist from Osimhen.
However, the goal was chalked off for offside. It did not matter, though, as Napoli took the lead moments later through their star boy Osimhen.
The Nigerian fired an unstoppable shot off the crossbar following a good cutback from Napoli’s captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Osimhen’s goal ensured Napoli went into the break with the lead. The second half started similarly to the first, with Napoli dominating possession.
However, they almost conceded an equaliser after Frosinone hit the bar from a freekick. The danger alerted Napoli as they went on to score a third through Osimhen, who finished past the keeper after a delightful ball from Di Lorenzo.
The goal turned out to be Osimhen’s final act in the match, going off to a deserved standing ovation.
Napoli had more chances to increase their score, but they could not convert. It did not matter, though, starting their title defence with a win.
Osimhen overtakes Kane
Meanwhile, Osimhen became the leading marksman in Europe’s top five leagues this year after scoring his brace.
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The Nigeria international had gone level with Harry Kane after scoring his first and Napoli’s second in the match.
But he became the outright leader after scoring his second, taking his tally to 19 league goals this year, one more than Kane,
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