Victor Osimhen is back with a bang, his wonderful header and late Andrea Petagna strike giving Napoli a precious 2-0 win away to Venezia.
The Partenopei welcomed back Osimhen for his first start since November 21, when suffering multiple facial fractures in a clash of heads, but Hirving Lozano, Axel Tuanzebe and Adam Ounas were injured, with Kalidou Koulibaly and Zambo Anguissa still at the Africa Cup of Nations. Venezia missed Antonio Vacca Junior, Sofian Kiyine and Ullmann, while many were still recovering after a COVID outbreak within the club.
The Lagunari wore black armbands and held a minute’s silence after the death of former President Maurizio Zamparini this week.
Osimhen’s early attempt was deflected over the bar, while Matteo Politano’s half-volley after a Giovanni Di Lorenzo knockdown skimmed the woodwork.
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Ebuehi saw his effort on the bounce also go close, but Osimhen clipped the outside of the near post from a tricky angle.
David Okereke sprinted away from Juan Jesus down the left and cut inside, forcing a desperate save from David Ospina and mad scramble to prevent a tap-in.
There was a bizarre incident at the dawn of the second half when Tyronne Ebuehi accidentally ran into the referee, the clash of heads leaving both in need of patching up for nasty cuts.
Napoli took the lead when Politano whipped a ball to the back post, where Osimhen peeled away from his marker to steer the header back across the face of goal into the far top corner. He celebrated with a Mark of Zorro gesture to go with the protective mask.
It really was not Ebeuhi’s day, as in stoppages he saw a straight red card following a VAR on-field review for his very high tackle on Dries Mertens.
After a lengthy period of stoppages due to the VAR and head injuries, Napoli went on the counter when Lobotka won it back from Fiordilino, Mertens saw his shot parried into the path of Andrea Petagna.
Venezia 0-2 Napoli
Osimhen 59 (N), Petagna 100 (N)
Sent off: Ebuehi 95 (V)