The Stadio Friuli witnessed a thrilling encounter between Napoli and Udinese, a match that saw Victor Osimhen etch his name into Napoli's record books.
The Nigerian striker's powerful header secured a 1-1 draw for the Partenopei, but more importantly, it marked his sixth consecutive goal against Udinese, a feat achieved by only two other Napoli players in the three-points-for-a-win era: Gonzalo Higuaín and Dries Mertens.
Udinese vs Napoli match report
The Parpenopei played out a one-all draw with The Little Zebras in a Matchday 35 Serie A encounter that could be described as the Nigerian derby. Isaac Succes and Maduka Okoye featured for Udinese Calcio while Victor Osimhen played for the Napolitans.
Success came off the bench to score a stoppage-time equalizer for Udinese against Napoli to help the hosts to a 1-1 draw at Bluenergy Stadium. The first half failed to get going, with neither side registering a shot on target. Samardzic whipped a left-footed strike from the edge just over the bar, with Bijol's swiveling effort going just wide of the left post.
Napoli started quickly after the restart, with Cajuste stinging Okoye's gloves before the visitors took the lead. Politano's cross from the right found Osimhen, who powered his header against the left post and into the net. Davis and Samardzic then forced Meret into sharp stops before the Partenopei thought they had doubled their advantage.
Osimhen whipped a first-time strike into the bottom right-corner after being found by Lobotka, but he was marginally offside after a VAR check. Udinese only created an xG of 0.36 in the second half. However, they levelled late on when Success got onto Kristensen's header to score from close range. The hosts are two points from safety and go to Lecce next, with Napoli hosting Bologna, attempting to keep their European qualification hopes alive.
Highlighting Victor Osimhen’s season
Despite a season plagued by injuries, Osimhen has been a revelation for Napoli. In just 21 league starts, he has plundered 15 goals and provided two assists, averaging a goal contribution every two hours on the pitch. His dedication is further emphasized by a performance-based clause in his contract that rewards him for reaching the 15-goal mark this season.
As per Il Napoli, the former LOSC Lille man has a clause in his contract that will see him receive 125 thousand euros (Osimhen, could receive up to 187 million naira) when he scores 15 league goals this season
Farewell campaign
Osimhen's exploits haven't gone unnoticed. The Nigerian forward has been linked with potential transfers to European giants like Chelsea and PSG, highlighting his rising stock in the transfer market. However, reports suggest his focus remains on finishing the season strongly with Napoli, potentially securing a Europa League spot for the club.
Napoli currently occupy the 8th position in Serie A, with their European hopes hanging in the balance. Their recent form, with just one win in their last five games, presents a challenge that Osimhen, along with his teammates, will need to overcome.
Udinese, on the other hand, are battling hard to earn the right to play in the Italian top-flight for another season. The Whites and Blacks are currently 18th with 30 points from 35 games played in the Italian Serie A.
