Osimhen scores hat-trick as Napoli thrash Sassuolo

Victor Osimhen snatched a hat-trick as Napoli extended their unbeaten Serie A run to 16 matches on Saturday by defeating Sassuolo 4-0.

The 23-year-old Super Eagles star gave Napoli the lead in the fourth minute after latching onto a pass from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and flicking it into the net.

He made it 2-0 in the 19th minute when he connected to another pass from Kvaratskhelia and fired the ball behind Sassuolo keeper Andrea Consigli.

Kvaratskhelia got his name on the score sheet in the 36th minute before Osimhen completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute by intercepting a poor Sassuolo pass and lobbing the ball over Consigli.

Sassuolo’s loss continued with Armand Lauriente being sent off in the 84th minute after he picked up a second yellow card.

Speaking after the match, Osimhen said;

“Congratulations to the team, I am happy to contribute to this win. Of course it is good to have as many goals as this, I want to keep the momentum going.

“This season the coach has given me as much confidence as I can get. I am really happy to rely on him giving me the maximum confidence. 

“I have just returned from five weeks out, which is not easy, and it is important to get really integrated with the team.”

Napoli now has a six-point lead in Serie A with 32 points from 12 games. They are six points ahead of second-placed AC Milan, who face Torino on Sunday. Sassuolo are ninth with 15 points.