Victor Osimhen: Napoli Coach Francesco Calzona Optimistic About Nigerian Striker’s Form

• Victor Osimhen missed a penalty for Napoli as they secured a 2-1 win over Juventus
• Caretaker coach Francesco Calzona said the Nigerian forward is nearing his peak form
• The striker has scored 11 goals in 16 appearances in the Italian Serie A this season

Napoli's forward momentum surged in a thrilling encounter at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Sunday, March 3, as they claimed a 2-1 victory over rivals Juventus.

Gli Azzurri caretaker coach Francesco Calzona, expressed optimism about Victor Osimhen's resurgence, saying that the Nigerian striker was nearing his peak form.

Despite his penalty being saved by Wojciech Szczesny, Osimhen's persistence paid off when Giancomo Raspadori capitalized on the rebound.

Calzona stressed the significance of Osimhen's role alongside Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the team's recent successes, highlighting their resilience amid challenging times this season.

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“Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen are two fundamental players for this team. They both had difficult moments this season but are now almost back to their usual levels," said Calzona, as quoted on Complete Sports.

The Super Eagles star's stellar performance this season boasts 11 goals in 16 league appearances, with an impressive streak of five goals in three games leading up to the clash with The Old Lady. Raspadori's 88th-minute heroics sealed the victory for Napoli, propelling them closer to securing a coveted European spot.

Federico Chiesa had equalized for Massimiliano Allegri's men in the 81st minute after a deflected Khvicha Kvaratskhelia volley had given the hosts the lead, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

Despite Juventus' missed opportunities, including Dusan Vlahovic's near miss hitting the post, the defeat leaves them trailing 12 points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

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Napoli's recent resurgence under Calzona's leadership adds another dimension to the Serie A race, with the club now only three points away from sixth-placed Atalanta, as reported by the BBC.

Luca Toni rates Osimhen above Vlahovic

Sports Brief reported that World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, Luca Toni, rated Victor Osimhen higher than Dušan Vlahović in terms of defensive prowess.

The assessment came ahead of Napoli's highly anticipated encounter last night.

Toni stressed that being a number 9 in modern football isn't solely about scoring goals but also incorporating various technical aspects, including defensive contributions.