Nov 8 (Reuters) - A goal from record signing Victor Osimhen
and two late saves by goalkeeper David Ospina gave Napoli a 1-0
win over a gritty Bologna side in Serie A on Sunday.
Napoli, given a roasting after their 2-1 at Rijeka in the
Europa League on Thursday when coach Gennaro Gattuso said they
played as if they were on an excursion, quickly took control and
went ahead after 23 minutes.
Hirving Lozano got free on the right and the Mexican curled
over an inviting cross which the unmarked Osimhen headed in at
the far post, his second goal since joining from Lille in the
summer transfer window.
Napoli thought they had scored a second when defender
Kalidou Koulibaly had the ball in the net following a goalmouth
scramble after halftime but it was disallowed following a VAR
review because the ball brushed Osimhen's hand in the build up.
Bologna finally managed their first shot on goal after 73
minutes when Musa Barrow's long-range effort was comfortably
held by Ospina.
Napoli had a dramatic escape shortly afterwards when Ospina
did well to save Riccardo Orsolini's shot, then Rodrigo
Palacio's effort from the rebound was blocked on the line by
Elseid Hysaj.
Minutes later, Barrow sent Palacio away down the left and
the veteran's shot was again stopped by Ospina.
Napoli's fifth win in seven Serie A games took them third
with 14 points, one having been deducted after they failed to
play their fixture away to Juventus amid confusion over COVID-19
rules. Bologna have six points.
(Writing by Brian Homewood, editing by Pritha Sarkar)