UCL: Osimhen-less Napoli Snatch 1-0 Win At Union Berlin

Napoli without star striker, Victor Osimhen, scored a second half goal through Giacomo Raspadori to snatch a 1-0 victory at Union Berlin in their Champions League Group C match on Tuesday and compounded their opponents’ woe to nine straight game defeats in all competitions.

In a match that had only few highlights, the Germans had the better chances in the first half but it was the move by Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down the left that decided the game, setting up Raspadori to fire in the winner in the 65th minute.

The result kept Napoli in second place on six points, three behind Real Madrid, which won 2-1 at Braga.

Braga are on three while struggling Union are still without a point in their first season in the competition.

Reuters reports that Napoli initially had most possession, but Union, desperate to end their losing streak, tried to hit the Italians on the break in the first half through Brenden Aaronson and David Fofana.

The latter, who had an effort saved, also put the ball in the net in the 24th but was ruled offside.

The visitors, without injured striker Victor Osimhen, struggled to break through a solid backline until the Germans repeatedly failed to clear the ball in the 65th.

Kvaratskhelia got the ball, turned on the turbo to charge into the box from the left and cut the ball back for Raspadori, who had no trouble beating goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow.

Union, who have now lost their last six league and three Champions League matches on the trot, had no comeback in them despite coming close with a Robin Knoche header in the 81st.

The frustration of a third straight loss in the competition was evident when Fofana was substituted but refused to shake the hand of Union coach Urs Fischer, who is under mounting pressure.