Napoli crowned Serie A champions with convincing win over Cagliari on their home turf. The team finished the season in thrilling dramatic fashion, finishing just one point ahead of Internazionale Milano. Inter secured a win in their most recent game against Como. This triumph marks a significant achievement for Napoli’s coach, Antonio Conte, who has become the first manager to win the Italian championship with three different clubs: Juventus, Inter Milan, and Napoli.
In-form midfielder Scott McTominay made it 1-0, just three minutes before halftime. The midfielder made a jaw-dropping bicycle kick after a cross from his Napoli teammate Matteo Politano. This amazing play just got the home crowd jumpin’!
Right after the break, Romelu Lukaku made it 2-0 Napoli just six minutes into the second half. He connected with a long ball, pushed a defender out of the way, and slotted the ball coolly past Cagliari keeper Alen Sherri. This performance was enough to clinch the win. It highlighted what most consider to be Lukaku’s importance to the team, as he was the crucial player that Conte requested when he was first appointed at Napoli.
Despite being suspended and unable to coach from the touchline during the match, Conte expressed immense pride in his team’s accomplishments.
“All the credit goes to the boys. Winning in Naples is difficult, these boys are doing it for the second time in two years,” – Antonio Conte
Napoli’s win came at a particularly crucial juncture. The race for top place had been incredibly close, particularly heading into the last match-day. Inter Milan, managed by Simone Inzaghi, made it equally as routine by beating 10-man Como 2-0. Stefan de Vrij and Joaquin Correa added two more goals to make it 3-1 for Inter’s victory. That win proved to not be enough to secure her championship title.
Conte’s suspension certainly didn’t lower the morale of his players. Though they would end up on the losing side, they proved tremendous resilience and quality in the attacking third. The mood in Naples was electric — and for good reason. Conte relished the occasion, mindful of the intense pressure that comes with the club’s fiery supporters.
“It happened again, and it’s something wonderful. When we got to the stadium, it was honestly difficult to get in, as I don’t know how many people were there. I had a slight thought, if we let these people down, it’d be something we carried with us for a long time,” – Antonio Conte
