The party, delayed Sunday by a late goal of Salernitana (1-1), began even before the final whistle at the foot of Vesuvius, in the streets of the city center as on the stands of the Neapolitan stadium now bearing the name of the Argentine idol where more than 50,000 tifosi had gathered to follow the match on a giant screen.

The celebrations of this deserved scudetto, as Napoli dominated the Serie A, promise to be boiling to accompany the return to the South of a title monopolized for 22 years by the three giants of the north, Juventus Turin, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

In Udine, they were also thousands of Neapolitans who made the trip not to miss this historic match, which put an end to 33 years of waiting.

Napoli fans during the title match at Udinese, on May 4, 2023 in Udine © Tiziana FABI / AFP

One point is precisely what was needed to mathematically secure the coronation five days from the end of the season, a record performance that only four teams had managed so far: Juventus in 2019, Inter Milan in 2007, Fiorentina in 1956 and Torino in 1948.

Osimhen at the right time

It has not been easy for this Napoli much less brilliant for weeks, worn out at the end of a season led by a beating drum. Luciano Spalletti's team was quickly surprised by a disciplined Udinese and in front thanks to a superb strike from Slovenian Sandi Lovric (13th).

Napoli's Georgian striker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during the match against Udinese, on May 4, 2023 in Udine © Tiziana FABI / AFP

Napoli then tried to push, but with less speed and less precision in their game. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia could perhaps have won a penalty (21st) and Osimhen posed the danger of the head (24th, 32nd).

It was not until the resumption that the release arrived, as often thanks to Osimhen, at the right time to recover a ball returned by the opposing defense on a corner (52nd). The Nigerian, top scorer in Serie A, will not forget the 22nd goal of his immense season, celebrated as usual by removing his protective mask to pick up the ovation of Neapolitan fans in delirium.

Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti during the match in Udine, May 4, 2023 © Tiziana FABI / AFP

Napoli, who could even have won without a great save from Marco Slivestri in front of Piotr Zielinski (70th), can no longer be taken back by Lazio, second with sixteen points.

Luciano Spalletti becomes, at 64, the oldest coach to be crowned Italian champion, beyond the 61 years Maurizio Sarri displayed when he won the scudetto with Juventus Turin in 2020.

"A liberation"

Spalletti's strength is to have been able to create an enthusiastic team, praised for its attacking game, where everyone has found their place, including substitutes authors of decisive goals for the title like Giovanni Simeone or Giacomo Raspadori, beyond the indisputable stars of the season, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia.

Udinese's Slovenian midfielder Sandi Lovric (c) has just opened the scoring against Napoli, on May 4, 2023 in Udine © Tiziana FABI / AFP

This near-perfect season, which also saw Napoli reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time, was not necessarily expected after the many departures of last summer, mainly to balance the accounts: Lorenzo Insigne, Kalidou Koulibaly, Dries Mertens or Fabian Ruiz.

This success is also that of owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, 73, a Roman film producer who took over a bankrupt club in 2004 and relegated to the third division. He brought him back first to Serie A and then permanently to the top of the calcio thanks to rigorous financial management, even if this also always earned him the mistrust of some of the ultras opposed to a policy deemed too mercantile.

Neapolitan fans celebrate after watching the match in Udine on a giant screen, on May 4, 2023 at the Diego-Maradona stadium in Naples © Carlo Hermann / AFP

But Napoli owes him a joy like it has not known for 33 years and which will undoubtedly be huge again Sunday at the Maradona stadium for the return of heroes against Fiorentina.

"It's a release, we've been waiting too long. (...) I heard about it from my parents (the first two titles, editor's note) and today I live it! The city will party all summer for sure," said Antonio De Roma, 20, a student, immersed in the festivities well and truly launched in Naples.

© 2023 AFP