Serie A: Osimhen on Target as Napoli Climb to Fourth Spot

Serie A: Osimhen on Target as Napoli Climb to Fourth Spot

*Darmian unlikely hero as Inter beat Cagliari to go 11 points clear

Nigerian international, Victor Osimhen was on target yesterday as Napoli defeated Sampdoria 2-0 to climb to the fourth spot on the Italian Serie A log.

The Super Eagles forward scored the second goal in the 87th minute after Fabian fired Napoli into the lead in the 35th minute.

Napoli are tied on same 59 points with Atalanta but are ahead on superior goals difference.

Elsewhere yesterday, a rare goal from full-back Matteo Darmian earned Inter Milan a 1-0 victory over Cagliari as Antonio Conte’s side closed on their first Serie A title in 11 years.

Struggling Cagliari were proving to be a tough nut to crack in the San Siro, with debutant goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario making several fine saves to keep the league leaders at bay.

But the visitors’ resistance was broken by an unlikely source in Darmian, whose second league goal of the season in the 77th minute secured Inter an 11th successive league win.

Inter moved 11 points clear of AC Milan in second with eight games to play while Cagliari remained languishing down in 18th place, five points from the safety zone.

“I like to repeat – these matches are starting to feel like victories are worth six points,” Conte told DAZN.

“Milan won (on Saturday) and it was important for us to keep our lead. It is not easy but we are getting used to it.

“For many it is the first time being under pressure like this, playing always to win. I am very satisfied with what we are doing.”

With such a healthy lead at the top of the table, Conte shuffled his pack for Cagliari’s visit, with Lautaro Martinez and Achraf Hakimi given a rest, but Inter’s cohesion did not suffer early on as they created plenty of chances.

Christian Eriksen forced the best save from Vicario in the first half – a fine one-handed stop to claw out a goalbound effort from the Dane.

As the match wore on, Inter started to look more nervous, and Conte brought Martinez and Hakimi on, with the latter instrumental in brilliantly setting up the chance for Darmian, who celebrated with a jubilant bench.

Inter’s 12th successive home league win left them needing 14 points from their last eight matches to guarantee the Scudetto.

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