Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia netted five between them as Napoli thumped Sassuolo 6-1 on Wednesday, harking back to the thrilling partnership which won last season’s Serie A title.
Osimhen scored a hat-trick before Kvaratskhelia bagged a brace of his own as Napoli come from behind to handily win their game in hand and reignite hopes of European football.
After Amir Rrahmani levelled just before the half-hour mark, Osimhen rattled in his treble across 16 minutes either side of half-time to take his tally since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations to five in three matches in all competitions.
And Kvaratskhelia, who rolled Osimhen in for his simple third, belted in two fabulous strikes in the 51st and 75th minutes against a dreadful Sassuolo.
Napoli are still ninth but four points behind Roma, who sit sixth and in the Europa Conference League spot, after just their third league win of 2024.
Francesco Calzona’s team are 26 points behind this season’s runaway leaders Inter Milan, who host Atalanta later on Wednesday, a sign of just how bad their league title defence has been.
And while Roma are in sight, eight points separate them from Bologna and the Champions League positions with a huge home fixture with fierce rivals Juventus coming at the weekend.
Sassuolo, playing for the first time under Emiliano Bigica following Alessio Dionisi’s sacking on Sunday, drop down into the relegation zone following a sixth defeat in seven matches.
