Napoli have won their first Serie A title in 33 years after a 1-1 draw with Udinese at the Dacia Arena. Victor Osimhen scored a 52nd-minute equalizer after Sandi Lovric had given Udinese a surprise lead. The point was enough for Napoli to win their third Serie A title with five games left to play. The club’s previous two titles came in 1987 and 1990, with Diego Maradona playing a key role in both. Following these successful years, the club experienced financial decline, relegation, and bankruptcy, and only returned to Serie A in 2007.
Napoli fans had been partying in Naples all day before watching a stream of the match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Over 10,000 supporters also traveled to Udine to witness their team’s success. Despite Udinese’s early lead, Napoli’s superstars did not give up, and the Nigerian forward Osimhen scored a crucial goal that helped Napoli clinch the Scudetto. The Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also played a crucial role in the team’s success, contributing 12 goals and 10 assists.
At 64, Napoli’s manager, Luciano Spalletti, becomes the oldest manager to win Serie A. He had previously won the Coppa Italia twice with Roma. Spalletti’s team had the chance to lift the title with six games to spare last weekend but could only draw with local rivals Salernitana. However, with a 16-point advantage over second-placed Lazio, their third Serie A title is now confirmed. The club had won the Coppa Italia three times in the past 11 seasons, but the Scudetto was the ultimate prize that Napoli fans craved.
At the final whistle, Napoli fans celebrated both in Udine and Naples as the club ended a 33-year wait for the title. The victory was especially poignant given that the club’s stadium is named after Maradona, who passed away in 2020. Napoli’s achievement has shown that the club has finally returned to the top of Italian football, and with a new generation of stars, they will hope to build on this success in the coming years.
