Osimhen returns, bags assist in winover Atlanta, as Lookman scores

Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri marked his debut with a sensational victory away to Atalanta thanks to Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Eljif Elmas on an assist from the returning Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen was out for six weeks after suffering a thigh strain on international duty with Nigeria but played without his trademark protective mask for the first time since January 2022.

Osimhen intercepted Carnesecchi’s poor clearance, and could’ve gone for a goal, but instead rolled it across for unmarked fellow substitute Eljif Elmas to turn in from six yards at the back post.

His countrymate Demola Lookman scored Atalanta’s only goal before he was substituted in the final minutes of the match.

Napoli shot into the lead first. Giovanni Di Lorenzo whipped in a cross from the right and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia got in front of Giorgio Scalvini to nod under the bar from six yards.

Atalanta almost equalised within a minute, but Gollini made a great reaction save on the Teun Koopmeiners header at the back post on a Hans Hateboer cross.

Napoli too threatened a second in first-half stoppages with a chaotic move sparked by Ederson’s error, as first Marco Carnesecchi rushed off his line to deny Piotr Zielinski, then the Di Lorenzo follow-up was charged down by Scalvini.

Matteo Ruggeri stung Gollini’s gloves at the near post and Atalanta equalised when Hateboer’s cross from the right found an Ademola Lookman towering header into the far bottom corner.