Frosinone 1-3 Napoli: Victor Osimhen hits double as Napoli begin Serie A title defence with win

Napoli began the defence of their Scudetto with a 3-1 win against Frosinone at Stadio Benito Stirpe in Serie A.

Despite a strong start against the Serie A champions, newly-promoted Frosinone were left empty handed at home in their opening league match of the season.

An action-packed first half saw five yellow cards, a penalty, three goals, and one more disallowed.

Frosinone, roared on by their fans in the Italian heat, opted not to sit back and allow the favourites to roll over them, but instead took the game on from the opening minutes. Their efforts, and their pressure, brought early reward, and it was the home side who took the lead in the seventh minute, thanks to a well-earned penalty. Jaime Baez juggled the ball up and was kicked to the ground by the slashing advance of Napoli’s Jens Cajuste, whose foot only managed to make contact with the Uruguayan's knee. Abdou Harroui made no mistake from the spot, slotting low to the keeper's left.

A techy period followed with both sides frustrated and lashing out, with five yellow cards given in the whole half. Napoli quickly got back into the game and after an extended spell of pressure, were back on level terms after 24 minutes. The ball came into the middle and sat up well for Matteo Politano, who laced it nicely beyond the reach of the Frosinone keeper.

Napoli looked to have gone in front on 34 minutes, from Raspadori, but the goal was ruled out for an offside much earlier in the move.

The away team actually did take the lead right before half time, thanks to a superb finish from last season’s golden boot, Victor Osimhen. His captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo used his strength to hold off the defender and make space for his striker, cut the ball across to Osimhen in the middle who launched it into the roof of the net.

The second half was more settled and all Napoli. Osimhen grabbed himself a brace and sealed the three points for Napoli, finishing off an inch-perfect ball threaded through to him from the right. It looked like it might have been offside, but a review allowed the goal to stand.

Rudi Garcia might have been expected to come in and start tinkering, or even making some major changes over the summer, but the new man behind the desk at the Diego Maradona stadium has been pretty sparing with the chequebook over the summer. It might not have come against particularly tough opposition, but the performance of the players in his first league match in charge will have vindicated his call to make as few changes as possible. With the player delivering two goals from opening day, simply keeping Nigerian Victor Osimhen could be the success of the summer.

A captain's performance from the right-back, who practically dragged his team back into the game after they went behind early on. His constant runs down the right caused panic in the Frosinone defence and created space in the centre of the pitch, which his attackers were more than willing to make the most of.

Frosinone: Turati 5, Oyono 4, Monterisi 5, Romagnoli 3, Marchizza 5, Mazzitelli 4, Gelli 4, Harroui 7, Baez 5, Cuni 3, Caso 4

Napoli: Meret 6, Di Lorenzo 9, Rrahmani, Jesus, Olivera 6, Cajuste 4, Lobotka 7, Zielinski 6, Politano 7, Osimhen 8, Raspadori 6

6' - GOAL! FROSINONE 1-0 NAPOLI (ABDOU HARROUI, PEN) No messing around from Abdou Harroui from the spot. He hends the keeper the wrong way and slots it safely to the right within minutes of the kick-off.

23' - EQUALISER! FROSINONE 1-1 NAPOLI (MATTEO POLITANO) The champions get the ball over the top and suddenly it's four on three. It comes into the middle and sits up well for Politano, who makes no mistake with the middle of his boot.

41' - NAPOLI TAKE THE LEAD! FROSINONE 1-2 NAPOLI (VICTOR OSIMHEN) Great strength from Di Lorenzo the captain to hold off his defender, create the space for Osimhen and cut it across to him. Fantastic finish, so much power, he absolutely roofed it.

79' - GOAL! FROSINONE 1-2 NAPOLI (VICTOR OSIMHEN) That surely seals it for Napoli, who have just looked comfortable in this half. It is - who else? - Victor Osimhen who latches onto a ball threaded through to him from the right, and fires home low beyond the keeper's left hand.

Frosinone have now lost all five times they've played against Napoli in Serie A.

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