PLAYER RATINGS | Empoli 0-2 Napoli | OneFootball

Another day at the office and another win for Napoli away at Empoli. The Partenopei take another step towards the first Scudetto since 1990 as they have a 18-points lead after 24 games.

Napoli picked up their eighth consecutive Serie A win, the 19th in their last 20 league games, by beating Empoli 2-0 away at the Castellani stadium.

It was another magic night for Luciano Spalletti’s side with the deadlock broken early in the first-half by Empoli defender Ardian Ismajli’s own goal.

Victor Osimhen, a few minutes later, scored Napoli’s second goal by finding the net for the eighth consecutive Serie A game and became the first player to do so since Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2019/20 season.

The Nigerian is on track to beat the all time record for most consecutive Serie A games with a goal, which is a record currently owned by Gabriel Batistuta, Fabio Quagliarella and Cristiano Ronaldo (11).

The only wrong aspect for Napoli was Mario Rui’s sending off. The Portuguese has received a red card due to a reaction; he kicked Francesco Caputo’s while laying on the ground.

The punishment could be harsh as Mario Rui now faces a potential two games-ban. If true, he’ll miss the next two Serie A matches against Lazio and Atalanta.

Player ratings

Empoli (4-3-1-2): Vicario (6.5); Ebuehi (5), Ismajli (5), Luperto (5), Parisi (5); Henderson (5.5), Marin (5.5), Haas; Baldanzi (5); Piccoli (5), Satriano (5).

Substitutes: Caputo (5), Grassi (5), Stojanovic (5), Pjaca (-), Vignato (-).

Napoli (4-3-3): Meret (6); Di Lorenzo (6), Rrahmani (6), Kim (6.5), Mario Rui (4); Anguissa (6.5), Lobotka (6.5), Zielinski (6.5) ; Lozano (6.5), Osimhen (8), Kvaratskhelia (6.5).

Substitutes: Olivera (-), Elmas (-), Simeone (6.5), Ndombelé (-), Gaetano (-).

Andrea Agostinelli | GIFN