Napoli clinched their fourth Serie A title in dramatic fashion on Friday by beating Cagliari 2-0, edging out rivals Inter Milan by a single point to claim the Scudetto.
Goals from Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku, scored just before and after halftime, secured the victory, sparking celebrations across Naples. The streets filled with fireworks, red smoke, sparklers, flags, and joyous fans dancing in the night.
Before the final match, Napoli held a narrow one-point lead over Inter Milan. With the title on the line, Napoli needed a win to guarantee their championship. Meanwhile, in Lombardy, Inter took an early lead against Como thanks to a header by Stefan de Vrij, briefly putting pressure on Napoli. The tension at Napoli’s home stadium, named after club legend Diego Maradona, rose sharply.
McTominay has become an unexpected hero for Napoli this season. Joining from Manchester United, the Scottish midfielder has exceeded expectations, helping carry the team to the title and earning Serie A’s MVP award. He opened the scoring with an impressive scissor kick from Matteo Politano’s cross just before halftime, finishing the league with 18 goal contributions—the highest among midfielders in their first Serie A season. Napoli fans have embraced him warmly, nicknaming him “McFratm,” meaning “McBro.”
Shortly after the break, Lukaku sealed the win with a stunning solo goal, dribbling past two defenders before slotting the ball home.
The victory was met with fireworks erupting throughout Naples immediately after the final whistle. On the field, the players celebrated by tossing their manager, Antonio Conte, into the air. Since taking over last July, Conte transformed the team’s fortunes, guiding Napoli from a 10th-place finish last year to their second title in three seasons.
Conte also made history as the first coach to win Serie A titles with three different clubs—joining Juventus and Inter Milan—alongside his Premier League success with Chelsea.
Reflecting on the celebrations, Conte told reporters that entering the stadium was challenging due to the massive crowd. He admitted feeling the weight of responsibility not to disappoint the passionate fans. The press conference was even interrupted by Napoli players singing in celebration.
