Lorenzo Insigne nets brace as Napoli win at Udinese

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:52 am

Lorenzo Insigne scored twice as Serie A title hopefuls Napoli returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Udinese at the Dacia Arena.

Thrust into a central role as a result of the sale of Gonzalo Higuain and Arkadiusz Milik's serious injury, Insigne had failed to notch in 11 league games this season before letting rip in Udine.

He twice played the role of fox-in-the-box to guide Napoli to a first win in three attempts, a result which lifts them to fourth in the table. Stipe Perica managed to score for Udinese, who are 13th.

The first half was played at a high intensity but chances were thin on the ground, with Udinese going close to scoring an opener when Duvan Zapata burst into Jose Reina's box.

Napoli focused their minds over the break and returned to the pitch in determined mood.

Lorenzo Insigne celebrates his second goal.
Lorenzo Insigne celebrates his second goal.
Dino Panato/Getty Images

Two minutes after the restart Insigne, whose last Napoli goal came against Hellas Verona in April, broke the deadlock by driving Jose Callejon's pass home at the far post.

The Italy striker doubled up in the 57th minute when Sylvain Widmer failed to clear Elseid Hysaj's cross, allowing Insigne to nick in for a straightforward finish.

Within two minutes Udinese made it a contest through Perica, who leapt to nod Sven Kums' assist past Reina.

Napoli reacted well and should have put the game to bed with Dries Mertens forcing a diving save from Orestis Karnezis before Faouzi Ghulam got Udinese's goalkeeper working from a corner kick.