Two-first half goals were enough for Luciano Spalletti's side to overcome Empoli and make it a perfect month of February – with five wins, 12 goals scored and none conceded.

Victor Osimhen was at the centre of things once again – lurking on the end of Piotr Zielinski's cross as Ardian Ismajli turned his attempted clearance into the back of the net.

Ten minutes later the Nigerian was quickest to react when Guglielmo Vicario could only parry Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's curling effort. 2-0 and game almost over.

The Azzurri eased off in the second half but remained in control even after Mario Rui was shown a straight red card.

Napoli's eighth league win on the spin makes it 21 in 24 games for the campaign, with a mere seven points dropped all season.

Meanwhile Osimhen found the net for the ninth game running in Serie A – or tenth in a row including his midweek strike against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

After three back-to-back away fixtures (Reggio Emilia, Germany, Tuscany), Spalletti's men will kick off March with their next two – against Lazio and Atalanta – at the Stadio Maradona.

Ismajli tries to beat Osimhen to the ball and puts it past his own keeper
Victor swoops to score after Vicario saves Kvara's shot: 2-0
Osimhen celebrates his ninth consecutive goal in Serie A

Empoli 0-2 Napoli (HT 0-2)
Scorers: Ismajli 17 OG, Osimhen 28.

EMPOLI: Vicario; Ebuehi (Stojanovic 68), Luperto, Ismajli, Parisi, Marin, Henderson (Grassi 57), Haas (Pjaca 76), Baldanzi, Satriano (Vignato 77), Piccoli (Caputo 57).
Coach: Zanetti.

NAPOLI: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Minjae, Mario Rui, Anguissa (Gaetano 90+3), Lobotka, Zielinski (Ndombele 90+3), Lozano (Olivera 70), Kvaratskhelia (Elmas 71), Osimhen (Simeone 84).
Coach: Spalletti.

Referee: Ayroldi (Molfetta).
Booked: Henderson, Grassi, Lozano.
Sent off: Mario Rui 67.

Share the article with your friends and support the team

Share the article with your friends and support the team

URL Copied to clipboard!