Napoli against Cagliari for the Scudetto
One step away from the dream: Napoli are set to host Cagliari, who secured their safety last week, at the Stadio Maradona, where they are seeking three points to win the Serie A title for the fourth time. With a victory, the Partenopei would secure the Scudetto regardless of Inter’s result; otherwise, it will all come down to how the Nerazzurri do.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
After their win in the reverse fixture (4-0 in September), Napoli could win both of their matches against Cagliari in a Serie A season for the first time since 2018/19 under Carlo Ancelotti. The last three matches between Napoli and Cagliari played in the second half of the season in Serie A have all ended in a 1-1 draw including the most recent one in February 2024, with an equalising goal scored by Zito Luvumbo in the 96th minute after Victor Osimhen opened the scoring in the 65th minute. Napoli have won nine of their last 12 home matches against Cagliari in Serie A (D2 L1), scoring 30 goals in that period (2.5 on average per match) – six of those have been played since matchday 30 (W5 D1 for the Partenopei).
DID YOU KNOW?
Napoli could win the Scudetto for the fourth time in their history after 1986/87, 1989/90 and 2022/23; so far no team from central-southern Italy has ever won the Scudetto more than three times (Roma also three). Napoli could become the first team in the history of a 20-team Serie A to win the Scudetto after a 10th place finish in the previous season, beating the record of Juventus under Antonio Conte in 2011/12, 7th in the previous campaign. With one match still to play, Cagliari have gained the same number of points as they did last season in Serie A (36); the Sardinians have lost both matches in the current league campaign against the team starting the matchday as the league leaders (0-1 vs Atalanta on 14 December 2024 and 1-3 vs Inter on 12 April). Napoli have scored 57 goals in the current league season and in the history of Serie A when played with 20 teams, the winner of Scudetto that scored the fewest goals was AC Milan in 2010/11 (65 goals). Napoli could become the third different team managed by Antonio Conte to win the Scudetto and he could become the first manager in Serie A history (since 1929/30) to win the title with three different clubs (Fabio Capello’s titles in 2004/05 and 2005/06 with Juventus are excluded).
PLAYERS
Romelu Lukaku's first Serie A start for Napoli was in the reverse game against Cagliari (on 15th September 2024), when he scored once and provided two assists (4-0). In the calendar year 2025, the Belgian has been involved in nine goals in home games (5G+4A), the most of any player in Serie A this calendar year ahead of Scott McTominay (7 - 5G+2A). Roberto Piccoli scored his 10th goal of the season last time out against Venezia; among forwards with at least 10 goals in the big five European leagues in 2024/25, only Patrik Schick (21G, 0A) and Kike García (13G, 0A) have provided fewer assists than him (one).
DISCIPLINE
Suspended: Antonio Conte (Napoli) Cautioned: Olivera (Napoli); Luperto, Marin, Mina, Obert, Zappa (Cagliari)
REFEREE
LA PENNA (GIALLATINI – COLAROSSI) IV: MARCHETTI, VAR: PATERNA, AVAR: ABISSO (Photo Getty Images)