(Football news) A goal by in form striker Victor Osimhen and an own goal by Empoli defender Ardian Ismajli as 10-man Napoli won 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday as they have extended their lead over second-placed Inter Milan to a staggering 18 points. Napoli have kept a clean sheet in their last four league matches for a second time under coach Luciano Spalletti as previously doing it in October 2021, remaining top of the standings on 65 points.
Napoli are aiming for their first Serie A title since 1989-90, after being runners-up four times since 2013. They dominated the match from the get go as they pushed mid-table Empoli enough to pressure Ismajli into scoring an own goal in the 17th minute. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sent a pass from the edge of the box to midfielder Piotr Zielinski who saw Osimhen in front of goal but his cross could reach the striker as Ismajli put the ball in his own net. Empoli had a chance to equalise from distance but a close shot by midfielder Liam Henderson was saved by Napoli keeper Alex Meret.
Osimhen had to score to make it 2-0 for Napoli just before the half-hour mark as he tapped in a rebound from close range after Empoli keeper Guglielmo Vicario parried a strike by Kvaratskhelia right into Nigeria’s path. The Nigerian striker has now gone onto score in each of his last eight Serie A games as he became the first player to score in eight Serie A appearances in a row since Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese had netted 11 goals in 2019-20 while Osimhen found the back of the net again 15 minutes into the second half but his acrobatic effort was ruled out for offside. The visitors were left with 10 men after defender Mario Rui received a direct red for a foul on Francesco Caputo.
“Everyone is playing their lives against us,” Spalletti told DAZN. “The fact that we maintain the distance against the others [in the standings] is a sign that the team has understood what the spirit should be. Everyone is there wondering towards the future [and the championship] but I say it’s better to have an egg today than a hen tomorrow.”
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