Napoli were crowned Serie A champions for the fourth time on Friday after defeating Cagliari 2–0, holding off Inter Milan’s late charge to seal the title.
In a packed and electrifying Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku netted the crucial goals that delivered Napoli their second league crown in three seasons, capping off a tense final day of the campaign.
Napoli finished just one point ahead of closest rivals Inter Milan, who also won 2–0 at Como. However, the victory proved meaningless for Inter, whose opponents were reduced to 10 men just before half-time after goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off in his final professional match.
While Inter’s win couldn’t change the outcome, Napoli’s fans erupted in celebration as new heroes McTominay and Lukaku sealed the title in style. McTominay, a Scotland international, struck his 12th league goal of the season three minutes before half-time with a brilliant acrobatic volley from a Matteo Politano cross, breaking the deadlock and lifting the tension that had gripped the stadium.
Signed in August after the season had already begun, McTominay quickly became the face of Napoli’s revival under coach Antonio Conte, following a disappointing defence of their 2023 title. His performances have been instrumental in the club’s resurgence.
Lukaku then doubled Napoli’s lead five minutes into the second half, latching onto a long pass from Amir Rrahmani, outmuscling Yerry Mina, and powering home the goal that confirmed Napoli’s triumph.
At the same time, Inter added a second goal of their own as Joaquin Correa cut inside Ivan Smolcic and coolly slotted home his second of the season. But the result mattered little, as attention in Naples had already turned to celebrating their newest Scudetto.
Now, Inter must shift their focus to the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Munich, their last chance to secure silverware in a demanding campaign. Despite a strong start and dreams of repeating the 2010 treble under Jose Mourinho, 12 points dropped from winning positions and a rotated squad in the final match suggest Simone Inzaghi was already looking ahead.
The Champions League remains Inter’s only hope of salvaging a season that, despite moments of promise, has ended in domestic disappointment.
AFP
