Osimhen hits the crossbar, almost talks himself into trouble with referee after final whistle v Verona

Victor Osimhen returned to action after recovering from a muscle injury that kept him sidelined for approximately two weeks as Napoli were held to a goalless draw by Hellas Verona in a Serie A clash at the Diego Maradona Stadium on Saturday evening.

It was the first time the runaway Serie A leaders had played a draw since August 31 when they shared the spoils with Lecce.

To the relief of the Napoli fans, Osimhen entered the game as a substitute in the 73rd minute, replacing Giacomo Raspadori, as manager  Luciano Spalletti's side searched for a winning goal.

Napoli thought they had taken the lead in the 20th minute through an own goal but celebrations were curtailed as the flag was up for offside.

The Parthenopeans turned to their captain  Giovanni Di Lorenzo for the opener but the right-back's header in the 56th minute didn't cause any problem for  Verona goalie Lorenzo Montipò.

Despite his lack of inactivity in recent weeks, Osimhen looked lively when he came on and came very close to scoring the match winner with eight minutes remaining when his ferocious shot came off the crossbar. 

The referee Federico La Penna had given four minutes of stoppage time and in the 94th minute blew for the end of the game with Napoli on the attack and having a chance to score. 

The Napoli players, Osimhen in particular, was furious with the referee for not allowing play to go on, and the situation might have escalated if the number 9 was not held back by his teammates as things got heated. 

The Nigeria national teamer is now seriously in contention to start Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash against AC Milan having come through today's game unscathed. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : Tutto Sport

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