By Adeola Akanbi
Having achieved history by making the quarterfinals in the last round, for the first time in their history, Napoli can make the last four of the Champions League by beating AC Milan on aggregate or after 90 minutes in the second leg of their clash on Tuesday evening at Diego Maradona Stadium.
There is little doubt that Victor Osimhen’s name and his teammates, will be in the history books come the end of the season when Napoli will be crowned the champions of Italy- bar any total collapse, and with a 14-point lead after thirty games, a first league title in 33 years should be a formality.
Not since the days of the legendary midfielder late Diego Maradona a league title been celebrated on the streets of Naples, and with many good squads in the past, and even the ones that had the likes of Hamsik, Cavani, Lavezzi, Mertens, Koulibaly, and, Jorginho couldn’t deliver a single league title to the people of Naples.
Luciano Spalleti this season has assembled a team vying to make a history of their own by not only aiming to win the first league title in over three decades but also looking to secure their maiden semi-final appearance in the Champions League.
One player spearheading the pursuit is 24-year-old Victor Osimhen whose impacts for Napoli were largely missed in the first leg of their defeat at San Siro as he has contributed 25 goals this season, with four of them coming in the Champions League alone.
The Nigerian has risen to the status of a hero among the home faithful as his superb performances this season have contributed largely to what is looking to be a highly successful season for Spalleti and his troops.
The former Lille forward is the leading top scorer in the Italian league scoring charts, and his combination with Georgian playmaker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has produced 39 goals in all competitions, bringing the talks of the best duo in Europe right now.
Spalleti must now know how to motivate and bring the best out of his players ahead of a historic showdown against another Italian giant AC Milan for a place in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition.
Achieving this history against a long-time rival is enough motivation for Osimhen and his teammates.
