Napoli are Serie A champions for the first time in 33 years following a 1-1 draw at Udinese, with Victor Osimhen scoring the goal which gives them an insurmountable lead over Lazio.
Napoli needed just a point to secure a third Scudetto, but trailed at the break to Sandi Lovric’s goal – a fine, curling strike that nestled in the top corner after he was allowed space in the visitors’ box.
An Osimhen header which looped narrowly wide was the closest Napoli came to scoring in a disjointed first half.
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However, they appeared reinvigorated after the break and drew level on 52 minutes when Osimhen slotted home the rebound from a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shot. There could not have been two more fitting players involved in the decisive goal.
An estimated 11,000 Napoli fans made the trip Dacia Arena and were buoyant for the rest of the match as their team pressed for a winner, which almost came via a Piotr Zielinski volley.
Thousands more watched on big screens at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples – a venue now named after the club’s talisman who helped them win their only previous Serie A titles.
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Five more rounds of matches remain in Serie A, but Napoli are up to 80 points and guaranteed to finish the season as champions. Udinese move up to 12th with 43 points.
Napoli have been head and shoulders above all rivals in Serie A this season, hence being able to secure the title with five games still remaining. They have scored the most goals and conceded the fewest, plus they have the division’s leading scorer and the player with the most assists. Complete domination.
Not a single player in the Napoli squad had been born when the club last won Serie A.
