Spalletti Keeps Faith in Osimhen to Rescue Napoli against Milan Tonight 

Femi Solaja

In what looks like the most important match for the Naples side, Napoli Manager, Luciano Spalletti, has picked Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen to start tonight’s ‘break or bend’ second leg, quarter final of the UEFA Champions League clash with  AC Milan. 

The Italian derby will hold at Napoli’s fortress, the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. With a goal deficit from the first leg in mind,  the Serie A run-away leaders will be aiming to cancel that lone goal advantage and book a place in the last four of this year’s edition.

The team’s top scorer, Osimhen and other star players like Kim Min-jae and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa have been in the race to be fit for the match. 

According to a popular Italian website, www.tuttonapoli.net, Coach Spalletti has confirmed that the Nigerian forward will be in the starting line-up. 

“Osimhen will start because he has gained enough physical and phycological fitness to play at this tough match against Milan. He will definitely start from the first minute considering the fact that every minute is very important in this encounter,” Spalletti remarked after the team’s final training yesterday. 

The development, no doubt is a big boost to Napoli fans who have been craving for the return of their ‘star boy’. Osimhen would be needed in tonight’s clash against Milan who two weeks ago secured a 4-0 win at same stadium in the domestic league. 

“On the San Siro match, with the exception of the Milan fans, we all agreed on what happened. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to have two fundamental players like Kim and Anguissa at our disposal,” Spalletti  noted. 

On Kim’s replacement, the coach said “Juan Jesus will take charge but it will be a bit difficult to get a suitable player for Anguissa’s place. But we will work out something and get the result to reach the next round of the tournament. 

Should Osimhen starts tonight’s match, it will be a face-off between him and Milan goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, who was his team mate at Lille three seasons ago at Ligue 1. 

Osimhen had not played for Napoli since the last international break before making a substitute’s appearance in Saturday’s goal-less draw with Hellas Verona. 

That reduced Napoli’s imposing Serie A lead to 14 points. 

The 24-year-old Osimhen played only the final 17 minutes of that frustrating stalemate, but the match came alive once he was on the pitch. 

He caused havoc in the Verona defence and came close to snatching the points and his 26th goal of the season in all competitions when he smashed a first-time rocket off the underside of the bar with eight minutes remaining. 

Osimhen’s devastating efficiency in front of goal will play a crucial role in his team’s quest for a semi-final berth against Inter Milan or Benfica.