Full TimeSecond Half ends, Udinese 1, Napoli 1.Post updateAttempt blocked. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.Post updateAttempt blocked. Victor Osimhen (Napoli) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.Post updateAttempt saved. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.Napoli have won their first Serie A title in 33 years after drawing with Udinese at Dacia Arena. Victor Osimhen scored a 52nd-minute equaliser after Sandi Lovric had given Udinese a shock lead. Napoli held on to the point they needed to win their third Serie A title with five games to spare, ending three decades of hurt for their fans.
Napoli have ended three decades of hurt by winning their first Serie A title in 33 years after drawing with Udinese at Dacia Arena. Victor Osimhen smashed in a 52nd-minute equaliser after Sandi Lovric had given Udinese a shock lead. Napoli held on to the point they needed to win their third Serie A title with five games to spare, sparking jubilant celebrations back in Naples.
Napoli’s previous two titles came in the days of Argentina legend Diego Maradona – who their stadium is now named after – in 1987 and 1990. Following those glory days the club fell into financial decline, relegation and bankruptcy; playing in Serie C as recently as 2006. They have won the Coppa Italia three times in the past 11 seasons but it is the Scudetto the Napoli fans craved.
They now have a new cast of superstars, with Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen scoring 21 goals in 26 league games and Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia contributing 12 goals and 10 assists. At 64, boss Luciano Spalletti becomes the oldest manager to win Serie A, having twice won the Coppa Italia with Roma. His team had the chance to lift the title with six games to spare last weekend but could only draw with local rivals Salernitana. But with a 16-point advantage over second-placed Lazio their third Serie A title is now confirmed.
Napoli fans had been partying in Naples all day before filling the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to watch a stream of the match. Over 10,000 fans travelled north to see their side in Udine but they were stunned into silence after 13 minutes when Lovric was given acres of space in the box before curling the hosts in front. Napoli struggled in the first half but got the goal they needed after the restart with Osimhen finding the corner after Kvaratskhelia had forced a good save from Udinese keeper Marco Silvestri. And after taking the lead Napoli managed the game superbly, keeping their opponents at arm’s length. On the full-time whistle Napoli fans raced onto the pitch, starting celebrations in both Udine and Naples.