Osimhen keeps Napoli in the lead

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…Milan beat Verona

Victor Osimhen ensured Napoli maintained their Serie A lead on Sunday with the winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Bologna, taking their winning streak in all competitions to 10 games.< /p>

Nigeria striker Osimhen struck in the 69th minute to secure victory for unbeaten Napoli, who maintained their two-point lead over Atalanta at the top of the pack.

It was his first league goal since August after helping his side qualify for the Champions League Round of 16 with a midweek goal in Napoli against Ajax.

"It's always important for me to score a goal in this stadium because the atmosphere is really amazing," Osimhen told DAZN.

"I am happy to be able to help the team with this goal and the victory, and I think we will continue this momentum."

However, Sunday's win was a far cry from the expected show of swashbuckling against Bologna, who sit 17th but walk away from the Stadio Maradona with credit after a fine performance without star man Marko Arnautovic.

The hosts appeared to be heading for a routine win once Hirving Lozano put them in front three minutes after halftime.

They had entered break level thanks to Juan Jesus scoring his first goal of the season in the final minute of half-time, just four minutes after Joshua Zirkzee had given Bologna a shock lead.

However, Alex Meret allowed Musa Barrow to equalize for Bologna just two minutes after Lozano's arrowed strike with a howler, leaving the Gambian's long-range shot to press under his body.

The home crowd squirmed but Osimhen, who came on for Giacomo Raspadori at half-time, forced his third league goal of the campaign under Lukasz Skorupski on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's superb pass to send the fans back to the home exhausted but happy.

– Tonali saves Milan –

AC Milan gave their title defense a boost with a 2-1 win at Verona that moved them into third place, three points behind Napoli.

Sandro Tonali netted the Champions League winner nine minutes from time, his first goal of the season and one that prevented Stefano Pioli's injury-ravaged side from falling further off the pace.

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Verona played their first match under new coach Salvatore Bocchetti who was promoted from the youth team following the dismissal of Gabriele Cioffi.

The hosts could easily have gotten more out of the game as, after Koray Gunter leveled a 19th minute own goal from Miguel Veloso, they caused serious problems for Milan and hit the bar through Roberto Piccoli 11 minutes after the break.

Bocchetti's side nearly equalized for the second time in the game in the dying minutes when a rush on goal led Tommaso Pobega to miss a handball penalty.

But a fifth consecutive defeat means they remain in the bottom three, two points behind Bologna.

- Inter's revival continues - On a high since Wednesday night's 3-3 draw away to Barcelona, ​​Inter Milan beat Salernitana 2-0 at San Siro on both sides other of the half of Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella.

Three wins from their last four matches, including four points taken from Barca, have put Inter's domestic season back on track and put them one win away from the Champions League Round of 16.

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Simone Inzaghi's side are seventh after winning the league for the second time in a row and lead Napoli by eight points.

Maurizio Sarri has said Lazio should 'look for another coach' after being outraged by the state of the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico during his side's goalless draw with in-form compatriot Udinese.

Sarri said the pitch, which was also criticized by Jose Mourinho whose Roma side play at the same stadium, was 'unplayable' despite both teams providing an engaging spectacle for the 45,000 people present in Rome.

Sarri also lost Ciro Immobile to a hamstring injury at the half-hour mark and fourth-placed Lazio could be overtaken by local rivals Roma if they beat Sampdoria on Monday.

AFP

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