Match report: Awoniyi fires Forest out of relegation fire; Osimhen, Lookman, Dessers caged in Serie A return

• It was a wasteful Wednesday for many Super Eagles strikers in Europe as Premier League and Serie A matches took centre-stage

The Italian Serie A

Nigeria's most valuable player, Victor Osimhen failed to soar as Napoli fell to a 1-0 loss at Inter Milan in their first Serie A match since the FIFA World Cup ended in Qatar.

Osimhen has nine league goals this season but he could not outwit the Inter defenders as Napoli suffered their first defeat of the 2022/23 league campaign. Inter Milan's goal came off the head of veteran forward Edin Dzeko early in the second period. 

Napoli remain top of the league table despite the loss but the Neapolitans are now only five points ahead of second-place AC Milan.

Over at the Stadio Giovanni Zini, Nigerian strikers Cyriel Dessers and David Okereke made Cremonese's starting lineup but Arkadiusz Milik's stoppage time freekick secured a narrow 1-0 victory for visiting Juventus.

Dessers, though, had a fine strike ruled out by the referee after consulting the VAR midway into the first half for a foul on Juventus centre-back Danilo.

Cremonese remain stuck in the relegation waters as the newly-promoted side boast seven points from their first 16 league games.

At the Stadio Alberto Picco, Spezia's traditional home, the hosts blew a two-goal lead to allow Atalanta seal a dramatic 2-2 draw.

Atalanta's top goalscorer with seven goals, Ademola Lookman was on the pitch for 57 minutes before he was substituted after failing to find his bearing. 

Two late goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Mario Pasalic, however, secured a share of the spoils for the visitors.

The English Premier League

At the Saint Mary's, Super Eagles forward Taiwo Awoniyi fired Nottingham Forest to their first win of 2023, the Nigerian netting the only goal in the Reds' slim win at Southampton.

Both teams were sat in the relegation waters ahead of kick-off but Awoniyi turned home a Brennan Johnson cross following a sharp counterattack in the 27th minute to give the Tricky Trees a lot to cheer at the final whistle.

With the victory, Forest climbed up to 15th position with 17 points from 18 matches. Southampton are rooted to the foot of the league table.

Nigerian stars Joe Aribo and Sam Edozie were second-half substitute