Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, rescued Italian champions, Napoli from defeat with the equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg tie in Naples, Wednesday night.
Pre-match talks centered around the forward’s availability for the match and he did just what he had to do to save his new manager from a negative start.
Following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON duty with Nigeria, Osimhen displayed his undeniable quality with a goal against the formidable Spanish opposition at the Diego Maradona Stadium.
Notably, it marked Napoli’s debut under new management, with Francesco Calzona taking over the reins following Walter Mazzarri’s departure.
Initially struggling to find their rhythm against the dominant Barcelona, Napoli faced an uphill battle in the opening exchanges.
Robert Lewandowski capitalized on the home side’s vulnerability as he scored to put Barcelona ahead just before halftime.
However, Napoli refused to succumb to the pressure, gradually gaining momentum as the game progressed.
In a thrilling turn of events, Osimhen rose to the occasion, when he held off an opponent to control a pass and scored in the 75th minute.
Osimhen was taken off immediately after his goal, as the club looked to get their star-man back to full-fitness.
In another fixture, Premier League title contenders Arsenal were stunned by Portuguese side Porto who snatched a late winner at home.
The Gunners entered the match on the heels of a convincing 5-0 triumph over Burnley.
However, their hopes fell-flat in the final minutes as they succumbed to a 1-0 loss, placing immense pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side to secure a win in the second leg.
FC Porto made a solitary change to their lineup, with Wendell replacing injured defender Zaidu Sanusi.
The Nigerian was ruled out for the rest of the season following injury sustained over the weekend.
The 1-0 first-leg result means Arsenal face the task of overturning the result at the Emirates in March.