A brilliant display by Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was on the cards on Wednesday when the Nigerian bagged a hat-trick as Napoli brushed aside strugglers Sassuolo 6-1 in the Serie A.
The current African Footballer of the Year has been on a good run of form since he returned from the Africa Cup of Nations held in Ivory Coast, scoring five goals.
He’s also scored in every game that Napoli's new manager Francesco Calzona has featured in since he took charge of the Partenopei’s last three games.
Victor Osimhen is now the first Napoli player to score at least 10 goals in four consecutive Serie A campaigns since 1988.
Argentine legend Diego Armando Maradona achieved this feat between 1984-85 and 1987-88, while Attila Sallustro did so between 1929-30 and 1932-33 season.
The win also meant that Napoli have recorded only their first away win since November.
Victor Osimhen bags his second Serie A hat-trick
The home side had only won two of their previous 21 Serie A encounters with Napoli, and had not scored against the Partenopei in their last three Serie A clashes.
However, Sassuolo ended their scoring drought against Napoli, as Uroš Račić curled an unstoppable strike from 20 yards out, registering his first goal for the club.
In the 29th minute, the visitors found a way back into the game when Amir Rrahmani levelled things up from close range.
Two minutes later, the Osimhen party began in Sassuolo as Napoli went ahead with Politano heavily involved again, this time cutting back for Osimhen to tap into the back of the net. Few minutes before the break, Politano again made a neat pass that found the Nigerian who coolly finished the move to make it 3-1.
Despite their struggles in the Serie A this season and almost not being able to defend their Scudetto title, Osimhen however proved again on why he has been missed following his adventure at the AFCON with his goal threats.
Two minutes after the restart, Kvaratskhelia pounced on a loose ball and laid the pass across for Osimhen to complete his treble, making it 4-1 on the night.
Victor Osimhen has now scored 8 goals in 6 matches against Sassuolo in the Serie A, at least 2 more than any other opponent in the Big-5 European leagues according to Opta.
Kvaratskhelia later bagged a brace in the same half to complete the rout against the hosts who now remain in the relegation zone while Napoli moved up to 9th on the log as they continue their chase for at least a European spot.
Osimhen transfer news: Can Napoli keep him beyond the summer?
It is difficult to see Osimhen staying at Naples beyond the current campaign as many clubs have been chasing his signature with the top teams in England, France and Spain all jostling to have the Super Eagles of Nigeria hitman.
Paris Saint-Germain have pencilled him as a replacement for their outgoing forward Kylian Mbappe while Chelsea have gone further by opening talks with his agents for a possible conclusion on agreeing to his personal terms but would have to compete with the team in Paris on meeting his buy-out clause of €130 million.
