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Soccer News of Thursday, 20 April 2023

Source: soccernet.ng

Why Victor Osimhen is the only Napoli star without a day off after Champions League exit

Victor Osimhen Victor Osimhen

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen is reportedly the only player not taking a day off today, Thursday, following the team’s Champions League exit earlier this week, Soccernet.ng understands.

The Nigerian striker will attend a therapy session and receive massages to ensure he is in top condition for Napoli’s game against Juventus on Sunday.

According to Tutto Napoli, the rest of the team has been given the day off by coach Luciano Spalletti to regroup and focus on the remaining games of the season, including the crucial title race for the Scudetto.

However, Osimhen’s commitment to fitness has led him to have an “extraordinary” therapy session and massages, ensuring he is fully fit for the upcoming match.

Osimhen missed Napoli’s 4-0 Serie A loss to AC Milan and the 1-0 defeat against the same opponent in the first leg of their Champions League faceoff due to injury. He was fit enough for the return leg on Tuesday and scored a record-matching equaliser in a 1-1 draw, but AC Milan advanced on aggregate.

With Napoli out of Europe’s premier club competition, the club’s attention will return to Serie A, where they hold a 14-point lead over second-place Lazio with eight games left.

Napoli have won only one of their last five matches in all competitions and will need Osimhen to be in top form to stand a chance against Juventus.

Osimhen has been a key player for Napoli this season, with 26 goals in all competitions, and the team will be relying on him as they aim to secure their first Serie A title since 1990.

Napoli currently sit first in the league, 14 points above second-place Lazio points, with eight games left to play.

A win in Turin will take the Neapolitans closer to a historic league triumph.