SSC Napoli Crowned Italian Champions on the Final Matchday. A Bicycle Kick and a Dream Solo Decide the Title Fight.
Ecstasy in Naples! SSC Napoli has won the heart-stopping finale in Serie A and has been crowned the new Italian champion.
On the last matchday, Napoli prevailed 2-0 (1-0) against Cagliari Calcio in their home Diego-Maradona-Stadium – thus defending their narrow lead (one point) over Inter Milan.
Scott McTominay had put Napoli ahead with a bicycle kick (42.), Romelu Lukaku increased after a fantastic solo run over 35 meters (51.).
SSC Napoli is the Italian Champion for the Fourth Time
Inter won 2-0 (1-0) against promoted Como at the same time, but would have had to hope for a blunder by the Neapolitans in order to climb to the top of the table. Thus, the club missed the hoped-for championship boost before the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 31 in Munich.
Naples goes steep
If Napoli had suffered a defeat and Inter had only achieved a draw, there would even have been a play-off for the championship – both teams would then have had 79 points on their account.
But Napoli showed no nerves, played confidently and secured the fourth Scudetto in the club’s history.
After the final whistle, all hell broke loose, the players lay in each other’s arms in a frenzy of joy, and some tears flowed down coach Antonio Conte’s cheeks.
A Thousand Lights Over Naples
Also outside the stadium, the fans went wild, organized convoys and drove honking through the whole city. A thousand lights flashed over the roofs, their reflection shone in the Gulf of Naples.
The club had only won the title again in the 2022/23 season after more than 33 years. Last season Inter was still allowed to cheer, while Naples had to be content with tenth place.
Record champion remains Juventus Turin by a large margin. The “Old Lady” has 36 championships, but last won the title in 2020.