NAPOLI, THE SCUDETTO IS BLUE
After the home victory against Cagliari, Antonio Conte's team mathematically secures the Scudetto at the final turn. It’s the fourth title in Napoli’s history, the second in three seasons. This achievement has the hallmarks of the Maradona era, but also signs of a new era. Coming off the back of a difficult season, with the worst performance ever from a reigning champion, Napoli changed their skin in the Summer and employed Antonio Conte. With him, ideas, discipline and ambition arrived. Buongiorno, Spinazzola and Marín all arrived to reinforce the defensive department, while Gilmour took Zielinski’s place in midfield. In attack, with the departure of Osimhen, the former Benfica player, David Neres brought his unpredictability to the side. The spine of the group remained, a side which proved capable of winning a sensational Scudetto under the guidance of Luciano Spalleti just two years before.
The season didn’t get off to the best start, with the Partenopei losing convincingly in Verona, 3-0. It was an alarm, which woke the side and rest of the club up. The reaction was immediate: the following match, Napoli beat Bologna at the Maradona and in the final hours of the transfer market, secured two big signings from the Premier League - Romelu Lukaku and Scott McTominay. The Belgian forward, a long trusted player of Conte, scored on his debut and secured the winner against Parma, who were completely overcome in stoppage time.
From that moment, Napoli marched forwards. The side beat Cagliari 4-0 and then got a precious goalless draw away to Juventus. Conte, in the meantime, was leading a tactical revolution with the objection of using the key components of the new signings: a back four, three in midfield with McTominay running late into the box, Kvara and Politano as inverted wingers. The new formation worked: Napoli took the lead in the league after six matches and recorded five consecutive wins against Monza, Como, Empoli, Lecce and AC Milan.
At the start of November, Napoli slipped up at home to Atalanta but didn’t lose their way. The following matchday, they held Inter to a 1-1 draw at San Siro. After two close wins against Roma and Torino and a home loss to Lazio, the Azzurri momentarily conceded top spot to Fiorentina and Atalanta. From December, Conte’s side picked themselves back up and recorded seven consecutive wins, making them the Winter Champions. During the January market, Kvaratskhelia said his goodbyes and left for PSG. He was replaced by Okafor and Neres, with the latter finding more consistency, while the Dane Billing arrived from Bournemouth. He was destined to be a key player. February, however, was the most difficult month: three consecutive defeats and the defeat to Como cost top spot, conceding it to Inter. But once again, at the most difficult time, Napoli found a way back. In the big match at the Maradona against the Nerazzurri, Billing’s late goal secured a 1-1 draw. The atmosphere changed and Napoli looked stronger than ever. Home wins against Fiorentina and AC Milan were followed by draws away to Venezia and Bologna, as Napoli remained in a toe to toe battle with Inter. The four consecutive wins that followed - decisive in the final run in - coincided with a dip in form for Inter, who dropped points to Bologna and Roma. Napoli took the lead, but two consecutive draws — the first at the Maradona against Genoa, after twice coming from behind, and the second away at Parma — send a shiver through Azzurri fans. Inter fails to capitalize: at San Siro, against Lazio, the Nerazzurri stumble in a heart-stopping finale, leaving their southern rivals in control of their own fate. The verdict comes on the final day. In a festive, sold-out Maradona Stadium, Napoli doesn't slip up and defeats a Cagliari side already safe, crowning themselves Champions of Italy. It's a massive celebration. An entire city erupts with joy, a people proudly wave the tricolor once again. Napoli have won the Scudetto, their second in the modern era, and have rewritten history. Antonio Conte has become the first Coach to win the Scudetto with three different clubs - Juventus, Inter and now Napoli. (Photo Getty Images)