Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian forward, has been hailed as "a huge player" following his impactful return for Napoli, which resulted in a 1-1 draw with Barcelona. This has ignited hopes that Napoli's challenging season might be on the verge of a turnaround.
Osimhen, in his first match since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, scored the equaliser with 15 minutes left of the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The 25-year-old's goal neutralised Robert Lewandowski's 60th-minute opener, which seemed likely to be the decisive goal as Barcelona were for long periods the better team.
Napoli skipper Giovanni Di Lorenzo praised Osimhen in an interview with Amazon Prime Video, stating, "He's a huge player for us. He's come back with the right attitude. We knew he would though as he's a great player and professional. He'll give us a hand in the matches to come."
Osimhen's ninth club goal of the season came at a crucial time, not just in the match but in Napoli's campaign as they play under their third manager of the season, Francesco Calzona, with their league title defence up in flames.
Despite a disjointed performance by his team, Osimhen gave Napoli a chance of progressing. Di Lorenzo added, "It’s a good starting point. We know that we need to do more but we’ve taken a step forward and now we have a chance in the return leg. It’s all to play for."
For Barcelona, it was the latest misstep of a complicated campaign. Despite having the better chances, they couldn't put Napoli away and could yet pay for their wastefulness. Ronald Araujo told Movistar, "We’re a little disappointed with the result because we could have come out with a win."
This incident underscores the challenges faced by both teams in the Champions League and highlights the impact a single player can have on a team's performance.