Udinese took the lead through Gerard Deulofeu’s brilliant strike mid-way through the first half before Osimhen netted a second-half brace to secure all three points for Napoli.
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Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti was delighted with his side’s performance in the come-from-behind 2-1 Serie A win over Udinese on Saturday. Udinese took the lead through Gerard Deulofeu’s brilliant strike mid-way through the first half before Osimhen netted a second-half brace to secure all three points and move to 63 points from 30 games, just three behind league leaders AC Milan.
⏱ 97: FULL-TIME WHISTLE?#NapoliUdinese 2-1
? #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/SzbgEc3SDq
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) March 19, 2022
All season we have put pressure on the opponents, but weren’t as sharp and clinical as today. The fans really helped, as they remained passionate and eager to turn it around,” Spalletti told DAZN.
“This is an important victory, because it must be underlined Udinese are a very strong side and so well-organised.
“Osimhen is a player with extraordinary potential. He has this remarkable change of pace, but sometimes he can go beyond his limitations. He is very strong in the air and we made more of those crosses into the box this time.”
Roberto Pereyera laid the ball to Deulofeu on the edge of the box and the unmarked Spaniard picked his spot and drilled into the near bottom corner on 22 minutes to give the lead to Udinese. Napoli had started with a 4-3-3 formation but then shifted to 4-2-3-1 after the restart.
“Systems mean only so much, modern football is more about how you interpret them. We must be ready for the high press, for quick turnovers that have been modernised, spaces not between the lines, but between the opposition players. They no longer have these precise lines, it’s about interpreting, seeing and using those spaces.
“There will always be a space behind the defenders and we need to make the most of them.”
Mario Rui’s free-kick was headed home by Osimhen to make the score 1-1 before Napoli took the lead on 63 minutes courtesy of a nice passing move down the right flank.Politano played a nice little through pass for Giovanni De Lorenzo, whose cut back from the by-line was slotted home by Osimhen from six yards.
It was the Nigerian footballer’s fourth goal in two Serie A games. Spalletti was asked if Napoli would be top of the table alone if Osimhen hadn’t been injured for such a long time with that multiple facial fracture.
“He is one of the players we missed. In these tournaments, you want 18 players available all the time. Osimhen was missing, unfortunately we won’t have him next time through suspension, but at least he will be well-rested.”
