Mueez Ajao
– Napoli took all three points at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna thanks to a Hirving Lozano brace and saw Victor Osimhen return to action after almost two months.
– The Partenopei returned to the pitch four days after their defeat in a Coppa Italia Round of 16 tie against Fiorentina.
– They were without starting goalkeeper David Ospina and captain Lorenzo Insigne who are both injured.
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– Kalidou Koulibaly, Adam Ounas and Zambo Anguissa are on Africa Cup of Nations duty, but Luciano Spalletti saw Fabian Ruiz and Piotr Zielinski return to the Partenopei XI.
– Napoli dominated the possession at the Dall’Ara and Lozano came close to scoring before getting his name on the scoresheet after 20 minutes.
– Eljif Elmas put in a great assist from the left with Lozano finding the net at the far post with a nice left-foot finish.
– Fabian almost made it two for the Azzurri but hit the woodwork with a curler from the edge of the box.
– However, the Spaniard assisted Lozano two minutes into the second half with the Mexico international rounding Skorupski and putting the ball inside an empty net.
– Napoli pushed for the third one and continued to dominate the possession. They appealed for a penalty kick for a foul on Fabian, but the referee waved to play on.
– Victor Osimhen was introduced as a substitute in the second half, returning to action wearing a protective mask less than two months after suffering a cheekbone injury.
– Bologna’s Nicolas Dominguez also came off the bench in the second half and came close to scoring, but sent his shot from a good position over the crossbar. Mattias Svanberg hit the woodwork with a late free-kick from the edge of the box.
– Napoli’s win allows the Partenopei to move four points behind leaders Inter, but Simone Inzaghi’s men have a game in hand.
– On the other hand, Juventus are five points off Luciano Spalletti’s side in fifth.
