Victor Osimhen continued his scoring form following his midweek performance against Barcelona, as his contribution secured a 1-1 draw for Napoli in their away match at Cagliari. Despite Osimhen's goal, which marked his second in several days, Napoli's aspirations for European competition were dampened when Zito Luvumbo equalized in the 96th minute for the home side.

 

The Nigerian striker appeared to have delivered a victory for Francesco Calzona in his debut as the head coach of the struggling Italian titleholders when he headed in a cross from Giacomo Raspadori in the 66th minute.

 

However, the draw leaves Napoli in ninth place, trailing Roma by four points for the Europa Conference League qualification spot, with Roma set to face Torino on Monday. Furthermore, Napoli is 11 points adrift of Bologna, who currently occupy the fourth position.

 

Osimhen, who also scored in Napoli's 1-1 Champions League draw with Barcelona, continued his impressive form since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, where he was a runner-up. He also struck the woodwork, showcasing his attacking prowess.

 

Post-match, Calzona spoke to DAZN, expressing that despite the team's chances to secure the match, they remained organized. He emphasized that the team's challenges are mental, not physical, as evidenced by their recent performances. He acknowledged that such issues require time to address and cannot be resolved overnight.

 

Cagliari, on the brink of escaping the relegation zone with a potential victory, remains second-to-last. Still, they are now on equal points with 17th-placed Sassuolo, who are set to host Napoli next Wednesday.