Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick and a Kvicha Kvaratskhelia brace helped Napoli smash sorry Sassuolo 6-1, giving Francesco Calzona his first win and a nightmare Emiliano Bigica debut.
The Neroverdi made their debut under interim coach Bigica, having sacked Alessio Dionisi on Sunday after one win and one draw in 13 competitive matches, but still missed Jeremy Toljan and suspended Daniel Boloca, with Domenico Berardi and Martin Erlic only fit for the bench. Calzona was still looking for his first win following 1-1 stalemates with Barcelona and Cagliari. Giovanni Di Lorenzo returned from suspension, with Jens Cajuste joining Cyril Ngonge on the treatment table.
Hamed Junior Traore started against his old club and drilled just wide in the opening stages, while Gian Marco Ferrari made a decisive block to prevent Victor Osimhen meeting the Mario Rui cross at the back post.
However, Sassuolo took the lead against the run of play when Uros Racic started the move, the acrobatic Andrea Pinamonti attempt was cleared to the edge of the area and Racic finished it with a snooker shot that bent around Alex Meret and back into the far bottom corner.
Osimhen flashed a shot just over the bar from a tricky angle after sprinting down the right and soon after Napoli got their equaliser.
It was a well-worked team goal, as Di Lorenzo found Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa down the right, his inspired back-heel flick set up defender Amir Rrahmani to complete the move by sweeping in from 10 yards.
Under 120 seconds later, Napoli had turned the game around completely. Di Lorenzo again sent someone down the right, this time Matteo Politano, who pulled it back for Osimhen to meet it first time from seven yards.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia spotted Andrea Consigli off his line and attempted an audacious lob from the centre-circle that was inches over. In trying to scramble back, Consigli accidentally pulled the net off the bar, so the goalkeeper and Osimhen worked together with staff to get it taped back up.
Once play resumed, Napoli added a third goal, as Matheus Henrique was caught in possession in midfield and the Politano slide-rule pass allowed Osimhen to spring the offside trap, beating an on-rushing Consigli.
Traore sent Kvaratskhelia down the left, forcing Consigli to parry at the near post using his legs.
Osimhen completed his hat-trick straight after the restart thanks to some suicidal defending, as Ruan Tressoldi trying to play it out from the back simply passed it straight to Kvaratskhelia, who rolled across for the Nigerian’s tap-in.
Victor Osimhen’s form since returning from AFCON:
🏟️ 3 games
⚽️ 4 goals pic.twitter.com/sVJWNd4mxH— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 28, 2024
Sassuolo fell to pieces and Napoli added a fifth moments later following another error, Kvaratskhelia running down the left, cutting inside and curling right-footed into the far corner from just inside the box.
Giacomo Raspadori’s cushioned volley on a Kvaratskhelia cross was straight at Consigli, but Kvaratskhelia added another when a corner was flicked on to him, the first attempt was charged down, so he smashed the second into the roof of the net.
GOAL NUMBER 6⃣ FOR NAPOLI!
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia bags his second goal of the evening 👏 pic.twitter.com/XJigrLsJJF
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 28, 2024
Napoli kept pushing, Simeone’s scorcher stinging Consigli’s gloves.
Sassuolo 1-6 Napoli
Racic 17 (S), Rrahmani 29 (N), Osimhen 31, 41, 47 (N), Kvaratskhelia 51, 75 (N)
Player statistic
| Uros Racic |  |
17' | ||
| 29' | |
Amir Rrahmani (Assist: Frank Anguissa) | ||
| 31' | |
Victor Osimhen (Assist: Matteo Politano) | ||
| 41' | |
Victor Osimhen (Assist: Matteo Politano) |
| 47' | |
Victor Osimhen (Assist: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia) | ||
| 51' | |
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Assist: Victor Osimhen) | ||
| 75' | |
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |
Match statistic
