Napoli sealed their first Italian league title in more than three decades after drawing 1-1 at Udinese on Thursday night. The result gave the Partenopei an unassailable 16 point lead over second placed Lazio with five games to play, thus confirming their first Scudetto since 1990.
Sandi Lovric’s 13th minute effort had put Udinese 1-0 up, and they managed to keep their lead intact till the interval. Napoli finally got their equaliser- and the goal they so desperately wanted, on 52 minutes. Khvicha’s initial effort was parried by Udinese keeper Marco Silvestri, but the rebound fell to prolific Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who found the back of the net from close range.
The visitors could’ve also won it towards the end but Silvestri produced a fine save to deny Zielinski. Nevertheless one point was enough for the Partenopei and the final whistle sparked massive celebrations back home in Naples.
The triumph also makes Napoli boss Luciano Spaletti the oldest ever manager to win the Serie A title. It also means Italy has had now four different league champions in the last four seasons- Juve, Inter, Milan and now Napoli, a welcome change given the Bianconeri’s dominance for most of the previous decade.
