Champions League: Osimhen to undergo test on Thursday as Napoli must beat Madrid to qualify for last 16

Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen returned to Italy Wednesday after a couple of weeks in Nigeria, where he had been sorting out a personal matter regarding his brother-in-law, who is suing him for unpaid commission on the transfer from Lille.

“Osimhen is back. The medics will evaluate him Thursday to see when he will be back on the field, it was predicted to be five or six weeks out when he first suffered the injury.”

The absence also raised more questions about the lack of a new contract agreement.

“We have been talking about his contract for months, so even if the negotiations are getting on a bit, we will continue along the right path to take” said Napoli director Mauro Meluso

Meanwhile, Napoli faces a herculean task of qualifying for the Champions League last 16 after playing a 1-1 draw with Union Berlin Wednesday night.

Group leader Real Madrid have already booked their Champions League Round of 16 spot and despite Wednesday’s setback, Napoli could join them in the next match but it’s not going to be an easy task.

The Partenopei were held to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona by Leonardo Bonucci’s Union Berlin, the first point the Germans have ever earned in this competition.

Real Madrid beat SC Braga 3-0, which secured their place in the next phase with 12 points from four matches.

Napoli follows on seven points, Braga has only three, and Union Berlin has just one.

Rudi Garcia’s men would automatically qualify in the next game if they beat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Another way of qualifying is to draw in Madrid, which would be enough if Braga also failed to beat Union Berlin.

 However, if Napoli fails to win in Madrid and Braga also defeats the Germans, then qualification will go down to the wire.

The showdown would be Napoli-Braga at the Stadio Maradona on December 12.

When these teams met in Portugal, Napoli emerged 2-1 winners on September 20 thanks to an 88th-minute own goal.

Elsewhere, Napoli captain Giovanni di Lorenzo has, on Wednesday evening, revealed his frustrations with the club’s showing, on the back of their stalemate with Union Berlin.

Rudi Garcia’s troops marked their return to action a short time ago, welcoming Bundesliga outfit Union to Naples for a Champions League group stage clash. The Partenopei dominated the 90 minutes but were ultimately forced to settle for a point.

This came as Matteo Politano’s opener was cancelled out by Chelsea loanee David Datro Fofana early in the 2nd half.

Speaking to Sky Sport, via TuttomercatoWeb, stopper Di Lorenzo criticised his teammates for their defending in the buildup to Union’s equaliser, albeit before adding that Napoli will do ‘everything’ in their power to return to winning ways next time out:

“We should have managed the advantage better, we beat this corner quickly and we weren’t in position. We can’t take that restart. It was a moment and these matches are decided with moments. It’s a draw that doesn’t suit, we’re sorry for our fans because even today at home we didn’t manage to bring home the victory, but now we will do everything in the last two Champions League matches to bring home qualification.”