European Leagues

Osimhen bags hat-trick, becomes Napoli’s 13th all-time scorer

Striker, Victor Osimhen, moved to 13th spot in Napoli’s all-time scorers chart after he bagged his first hat-trick of the season within 16 minutes as the Partenopei annihilated Sassuolo 6-1 away in a Serie A game on Wednesday.

It was his second hat-trick against Sassuolo since arriving in Italy in 2020. The former Lille striker scored his first against the Neroverdi on October 29, 2022.

The 25-year-old also had an assist for Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, who scored twice in the encounter as new management Francesco Calzona recorded his first win after three games.

The treble also took Osimhen’s tally to five in three games for Napoli since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and his 13th across all competitions this season.

Sassuolo had raced to an early lead in the 17th minute when Uros Racic curled in an inch-perfect low drive from the edge of the box but Amir Rrahmani drew Napoli level 12 minutes later after finishing off a well-worked team play involving Di Lorenzo and Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa down the right flank.

Osimhen gave Napoli a deserved lead two minutes later when he made it 2-1 after firing in from seven yards off a pass from Matteo Politano.

The Nigerian scored his second goal of the game after he capitalised on an error from goalkeeper Andrea Consigli to tap in from close range.

He completed his hat-trick straight after the restart, thanks to some suicidal defending from Sassuolo. Ruan Tressoldi tried to play it out from the back but passed it straight to Kvaratskhelia, who rolled across for the Nigerian to score.

With this treble, Osimhen becomes the third player in Napoli’s history to score at least 10 goals in four consecutive Serie A seasons after the late Diego Maradona (between 1984/85 and 1987/88) and Attila Sallustro (between 1929/30 and 1932/33), according to Opta.

Osimhen has now scored 72 goals in 122 games for Napoli and he is now joint fourth with Paulo Dybala in Serie A top scorers standings with 11 goals from 15 games.

The result keeps the champions in ninth place but they are now just eight points off the top four.

Premier League

Gary Lineker, Micah Richards advise caution over potential João Félix move to Aston Villa

Football pundits Gary Lineker and Micah Richards have cautioned Aston Villa against pursuing João Félix from Chelsea, despite the club’s interest in the Portuguese playmaker.

Aston Villa are keen to bring in Félix during the January transfer window following the departure of forward Jhon Durán, who is set to join Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Félix, who has struggled for regular starts under manager Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, has started just three Premier League matches since returning to Stamford Bridge last summer.

However, Lineker and Richards are skeptical about the fit between the former Barcelona star and Villa’s playing style under Unai Emery.

On The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker remarked, “That is a funny one because he is a player who moved for a massive price tag when he was really young to Atlético Madrid.

“There is no question he has a lot of ability, but he has never managed to secure a regular starting place anywhere, so I don’t know what Aston Villa would see in him.”

Richards added, “That is the thing. Everyone wants a marquee signing, and getting a player of that stature by name to Villa Park would be amazing.

“They just have to be careful. What makes Villa so good is how they press, and when Watkins is out of the team, you’ve got Durán, and behind him, you’ve got Morgan Rogers. The one thing all those players have is a high work rate, intensity, and a strong press.

“If you bring in a flair player, you do need options, but you risk moving away from what got them to where they are now—competing in the Champions League and the Premier League.”

Premier League

David Luiz highlights Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández as standout Chelsea players

Former Chelsea defender David Luiz has praised Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández as standout players at Chelsea. Luiz singled out Caicedo for his powerful presence on the pitch, noting the midfielder’s resilience after a rocky start.

“I love a lot of players at Chelsea, but in particular, Caicedo. He has some amazing qualities, he is powerful,” Luiz said, adding that the Ecuadorian has shown great character by continuing to fight and showcase his skill.

Luiz also commended Enzo Fernández, calling him a world-class talent and a player who thrives in a team with a solid collective performance.

“Enzo is fantastic, and at Chelsea, he has many examples to follow to continue to improve,” Luiz added.

The 37-year-old spent most of his Premier League career at Chelsea, later having a stint at London rivals Arsenal.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Walcott: Arsenal can win the Champions League if they improve key areas

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has expressed belief that the Gunners can clinch the UEFA Champions League title this season, but only if they address two key areas.

Arsenal, who are second in the Premier League with 47 points from 23 games, finished third in their Champions League group with 19 points. Walcott told the BBC that the team needs to develop a stronger winning mentality and a more free-flowing style of play.

He also highlighted the need for a star striker to increase their goal output, saying, “If they want to win the Champions League, they need to get those numbers a lot higher.”

With improvements in these areas, Walcott believes Arsenal could be contenders for Europe’s most prestigious trophy.