Largely at the top of the championship, with 17 points ahead of the match over its runner-up, Lazio, Napoli seems guaranteed to win a title that has eluded them since 1990 and the era of Maradona, three years after that of 1987, again thanks to the Argentine legend.

Already won in the eyes of the fans, the scudetto has been celebrated for weeks in the streets of the center as in the "Spanish quarters" where the famous fresco of Maradona sits, and where the flags displaying "champion of Italy" and the portraits of the players have bloomed for several weeks.

Fearing excesses in the face of this impatience, the authorities had also moved the match, initially scheduled for Saturday, to Sunday, after the meeting between Inter Milan and Lazio Rome, whose outcome influenced the title race: a defeat or a draw of the Romans were necessary for Luciano Spalletti's men to ensure the coronation in case of victory against Salernitana.

A title celebrated too early

Four hours before the start of the match against Salernitana, spectators were already queuing in front of the Diego Maradona stadium, in a feverish atmosphere.

The disappointment of a couple of Napoli supporters after the draw against Salernitana, on April 30, 2023 in Naples © Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

Faces painted blue in the colors of Naples, waving flags from scooters, young people and entire families walked through the streets Sunday morning, celebrating in advance the title promised to Naples.

The defeat of Lazio (3-1) in San-Siro caused a first explosion of joy, the supporters throwing themselves into each other's arms. "It's the first time in history, but today we supported Inter!" shouted 14-year-old Sofia Sperduto, with her hair dyed blue.

"It's ours! Now let's show the world who Naples is," enthused Francesco Corrierio, 17, a big blue N painted on his face. "My grandfather passed on this passion to me, today I celebrate it for him too."

After a long period of one-sided but sterile dominance, Neapolitan left-back Mathias Olivera delivered tens of thousands of spectators – and an entire city – by throwing the ball from the head into the net of Guillermo Ochoa (62nd), causing a deluge of smoke and firecrackers in and around the stadium.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen disappointed after the draw against Salernitana, on April 30, 2023 at the Diego Maradona © Stadium Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP

But Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia came to shower his celebrations by equalizing unexpectedly (84th). Not enough to extinguish the joy of the Neapolitans, but enough to delay the final deliverance, which could arrive as early as the next day of the championship.

"Winning at home would have been a nice gift for the city, but it didn't happen like that," said Stefano Verde, 25, an engineering student. "But we are not disappointed, we are serene, we will party another day."

"We are not sad," said Riccardo Cappi, a bar owner. "The win is just a little bit postponed, it doesn't change much."

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© 2023 AFP