Thanks to Osimhen’s equalizer, Napoli is national champion for the first time in 33 years


Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 10:36 PM• Martin van Mourik

Napoli has become champion of Italy for the third time in club history. On a visit to Udinese, a 1-1 draw was enough for Luciano Spalletti’s team to take the Scudetto to secure. In the first half, Napoli shivered after the goal by Udinese midfielder Sandi Lovric, but in the second half Victor Osimhen equalized for absolute liberation. It is the first time in 33 years that the Neapolitans seize the national title.

Last Sunday, Napoli could have secured the national title with a Salernitana victory, but in the 84th minute of play, Boulaye Dia prevented Napoli from winning at home. Scudetto captured: 1-1. Spalletti chose to change his squad in two places compared to the duel with the number fourteen of the Serie A. At the front right, Hirving Lozano had to make way for Eljif Elmas, while Tanguy Ndombele replaced Piotr Zielinski in left midfield.

The nerves seemed to seriously bother Napoli, because Udinese suddenly took the lead in the thirteenth minute of play. Destiny Udogie gave the ball in the sixteen-meter area to Lovric, who was given space to turn and scored effectively: 1-0. It turned out to be a hard blow for Napoli, which was only able to find a breakthrough a few times after the goal against. After half an hour of play, Osimhen did get the chance to score the equalizer on a pass from Giovanni Di Lorenzo, but his header went just wide.

In the second act, Napoli became more threatening and the attacking spirit led to the crucial one in the 52nd minute. After a carom for the enemy goal, the ball ended up in the box at the feet of Osimhen, who remained icy calm and hit with his inside: 1-1. More than fifteen minutes later, substitute Zielinski was able to make the decision after a nice through ball from Elmas; however, his volley was beautifully parried by goalkeeper Marco Silvestri. In the remainder of the match, Napoli shivered a few more times, although the third national title was no longer in danger.

No. Team m W G v +/- Pnt
1 Naples 33 25 5 3 46 80
2 Lazio 33 19 7 7 28 64
3 Juventus 33 19 6 8 22 63
4 Internazionale 33 19 3 11 25 60
5 Atlanta 33 17 7 9 17 58
6 AC Milan 33 16 10 7 14 58
7 AS Roma 33 17 7 9 14 58
8 Florence 33 12 10 11 6 46
9 bologna 32 12 9 11 1 45
10 Monza 33 12 9 12 -3 45
11 Torino 33 12 9 12 -3 45
12 Udinese 33 10 13 10 2 43
13 Sassuolo 33 12 7 14 -9 43
14 Salernitana 33 7 14 12 -13 35
15 Empoli 32 7 11 14 -16 32
16 Lecce 33 7 10 16 -12 31
17 Spezia 33 5 12 16 -26 27
18 Hellas Verona 33 6 9 18 -24 27
19 Cremonese 33 3 12 18 -30 21
20 Sampdoria 33 3 8 22 -39 17