Victor Osimhen opened his 2023-24 Serie A account with a brace in Napoli’s 3-1 win at newly-promoted Frosinone on Saturday evening.
The Nigeria international won the Capocannoniere last season as top scorer with 26 goals in 32 games as the Partenopei secured their first league title since 1990.
The Campania outfit began life without Luciano Spalletti who was recently appointed as Italy national team manager while Rui Garcia took charge at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this summer.
Things however did not start well for Napoli as they fell behind to a penalty from Morocco midfielder Abdou Harroui in the seventh minute, making him the third Frosinone player to score on his Serie A debut after Danilo Soddimo in August 2015 and Arlind Ajeti in January 2016.
3 – Abdou Harroui is the third player to score in his first match for Frosinone in Serie A, after Danilo Soddimo in August 2015 v Torino and Arlind Ajeti in January 2016 v Sassuolo. Debut.#FrosinoneNapoli #SerieA
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) August 19, 2023
The reigning Serie A champions were however able to find their way back with Matteo Politano equalising in the 24th minute before leading 2-1 with Osimhen’s powerful strike three minutes to the halftime break.
The goal put the Lagos-born forward level with Bayern Munich star Harry Kane on 18 strikes for most goals in Europe’s top five leagues in the 2023 calendar year.
18 – Victor #Osimhen has scored the joint-most goals in the Big-5 European leagues in the calendar year 2023: 18 goals, alongside Harry Kane. Predator. #FrosinoneNapoli #SerieA pic.twitter.com/lbqQobtZin
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) August 19, 2023
Osimhen completed his brace in the 79th minute, latching on to a brilliant pass from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and running free of any challenge from the Frosinone defence before finishing off calmly.
Napoli’s next Serie A assignment will see them host Sassuolo at the Maradona next Sunday.
