Highlights: Victor Osimhen, absent from the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League lost against AC Milan (1-0), is back in the attack of Napoli. The Nigerian, too fair in the first leg because of discomfort to an adductor, found the field for twenty minutes Saturday, April 15 against Hellas Verona (0-0). He did not score but reassured the tifosi with a beautiful half-volley over the bar. Without its striker, top scorer, 4 in C1, returned injured from the last meeting of Nigeria at the end of March.

Victor Osimhen, absent from the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League lost against AC Milan (1-0), is back in the attack of Napoli and carries the hopes of an entire city called to unite...

Champions League: Napoli rely on Nigerian Victor Osimhen to try to topple Milan

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, author of a double for Napoli against Udinese, March 19, 2022. REUTERS - CIRO DE LUCA

Text by: RFI Follow

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Victor Osimhen, absent from the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League lost against AC Milan (1-0), is back in the attack of Napoli and carries the hopes of a whole city called to unite Tuesday, April 18 in the return match behind Luciano Spalletti's team.

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The Nigerian, too fair in the first leg because of discomfort to an adductor, found the field for twenty minutes Saturday, April 15 against Hellas Verona (0-0). He did not score but reassured the tifosi with a beautiful half-volley over the bar. Without its striker with 25 goals (21 in Serie A, top scorer, 4 in C1), returned injured from the last meeting of Nigeria at the end of March, Napoli has lacked in recent weeks depth and an anchor point in front.

The indispensable Osimhen

Without him, Napoli lost twice to Milan, swept 4-0 in the league at home on April 2 before the C1 setback. " Osimhen has this physique where you can throw the ball into space and he keeps it," coach Luciano Spalletti said on Saturday. "And then when he comes in, he always raises a wave of enthusiasm in the team, these are the players made of another dough," he added, aware of his team's dependence on the valuable 24-year-old Nigerian striker, who has shown increasing efficiency since his arrival in the summer of 2020 (53 goals, in 91 games, in all competitions). The ex-Lillois, despite some regular injuries related to a total commitment, lives his most successful season, thanks to his agreement with winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Naples and the Osimhen passion

The Neapolitan passion for Osimhen is displayed around the stadium and in the streets of the city, with frescoes on the walls or a new pastry shop in his honor. His protective mask, worn since his violent clash with Milan Skriniar last season, is also the most fashionable accessory with the youngest.

"When you arrive in Napoli, you fall in love with football even more, because people's whole lives are based on this game and their support for the team. Being able to offer them something they will remember is a big mission for me," said Osimhen, who, in addition to the scudetto already almost in his pocket with a 14-point lead at the top of Serie A with eight days to go, dreams of taking Napoli to a very first C1 semi-final.

Boosted by the return of its new masked superhero, the packed Diego-Maradona stadium (nearly 55,000 spectators) is ready to roar.

Champions League: Napoli rely on Nigerian Victor Osimhen to try to topple Milan

Champions League: Napoli rely on Nigerian Victor Osimhen to try to topple Milan

The indispensable Osimhen

Naples and the Osimhen passion

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