Napoli made history as they became only the third Italian side ever to be crowned Serie A champions with five games to spare. In the process, the Partenopei also ended a 33-year wait for a title on Thursday night.
Owning to their 15-point lead over Lazio in second, Napoli needed just a point away at Udinese to be mathematically crowned champions. After trailing for 30 minutes, Victor Osimhen’s equalizer in the second half was enough for a 1-1 draw and glory which sparked manic scenes in Naples.
Osimhen made no mistake to finish from inside the box after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saw a shot saved early in the second half. That goal cancelled out Sandi Lovric’s stunner to clinch Napoli the Serie A and spark massive celebration all over.
Osimhen sets Serie A record
Osimhen’s brilliant season means he has now scored more Serie A goals this season than any African player ever. Samuel Eto’o previously held the record with Inter after scoring 21 times in the 2010-11 season but Osimhen has now made that record his own. The Nigerian is up to 22 for the campaign.
It is only the third time in the club’s history that Napoli have won the Serie A title and they have done so for the first time since club legend Diego Maradona led them to titles in 1987 and 1990.
Scudetto win is only the starting point, says Napoli president
“You always told me, we want to win. And we won! We all won together. And on Sunday against Fiorentina, everyone here for the big party. Thank you to everyone!” said Napoli president De Laurentiis after the game against Udinese.
“Today is the crowning of an expectation that lasted 33 years. When I arrived, I said it will take 10 years to get into Europe – we maintained that early. I said another 10 years to win the Scudetto, and we did that again a couple of years in advance.
“Now we need to win it again, and again, and again. And of course we’re missing the Champions League.”
“This team felt weighed down by responsibility and we needed a group that felt light enough to take flight, not with individuals that were acting as brakes.”
“The project never stops. This is a starting point for me, not an arrival. We resume next season with Spalletti.”
“Cavani, Lavezzi, Quagliarella, Higuain,” added the President.
“I think we built the Scudetto over all these years. Je ne regrette rien, as the French would say.”
