Napoli extend their lead as leaders of Italy to 18 points

SASSUOLO, Italy (AP) — Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen scored in the first half as Napoli won in Sassuolo on Friday, extending their lead to 18 points as Italy’s Serie A leaders.

Giovanni Simeone, son of Atlético de Madrid’s Argentine coach Diego Simeone, thought he had made it 3-0 after throw-ins, but his goal was disallowed due to an advanced position.

Simeone had entered the final stages for Osimhen on a day when coach Luciano Spalletti exhausted his five possible substitutions, presumably to rest some members, ahead of Tuesday’s visit to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

But his team didn’t seem to show any interest in saving energy for the continental tournament.

Kvaratskhelia gave the visiting side a great start in the 12th minute when he collected a ball in the center circle and fired a shot on goal. He evaded an opponent and created enough space to shoot between the legs of a defender at the near post.

Armand Laurienté hit a post in response for Sassuolo, before Osimhen finished. The Nigerian striker netted a hat trick in October, in a 4-0 thrashing of Sassuolo themselves, and looked set to repeat the feat.

He smashed a ball into the left post at minute 27 and scored at minute 33, with an accurate shot near the near post, from almost no angle and past two opponents.

Osimhen almost made it 3-0 a few minutes later with a header that went just wide of a Kvaratskhelia cross.

Laurienté responded with a good finish for Sassuolo but the goal was ruled out via VAR. Kvaratskhelia’s team-mate Grégoire Defrel was offside and made light contact with Uruguayan defender Mathías Olivera, who fell.

Osimhen could still have scored after the intermission. He was uncharacteristically erratic in the finish, when alone against goalkeeper Andre Consigli, who then made a superb save as the visitors continued to press.

Following his goal, Osimhen has nine in his last seven league games and 18 in Serie A this season.

Milan, who are second, host Udinese this Saturday.