With a draw against Udinese at Dacia Arena, Napoli won the Serie A for the first time in 33 years, setting off wild celebrations in their home city of Naples.
They last won the league in 1990 when a team led by Diego Maradona added to their first championship from three years prior.
After Sandi Lovric had given Udinese an unexpected lead in the 52nd minute, Victor Osimhen slammed home an equalizer.
Napoli 90 minutes away from title as Lazio lost to Inter
With five games remaining, Napoli managed to maintain the point they required to capture their third Serie A championship.
“Seeing Neapolitans happy is enough to give you a sense of that joy they are feeling,” Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti said to DAZN.
“These people have every right to celebrate like way because they will remember this time when things are difficult.
You feel a little more at ease knowing that you contributed to their moment of joy.
Late draw by Salernitana prevents Napoli from league title
Napoli end thirty years of suffering
The two championships won by Napoli previously occurred in 1987 and 1990, during the reigns of Argentina superstar Maradona, in whose honor their stadium is now named.
The club experienced financial deterioration, relegation, and insolvency after their heydays; it last competed in Serie C in 2006.
Although they have three Coppa Italia victories in the last 11 years, the Scudetto is what Napoli supporters really wanted.
They now have a fresh cast of superstars, including Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has 12 goals and 10 assists, and Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen, who has 21 goals in 26 league appearances.
With two Coppa Italia victories with Roma, leader Luciano Spalletti, 64, becomes the oldest manager to win Serie A.
Last weekend, his team had a chance to win the championship with six games remaining, but they were only able to draw with Salernitana, a nearby rival.
But their third Serie A championship is now assured thanks to a 16-point lead over Lazio in second place.
Wild celebrations are sparked by Osimhen leveller
Their game against Udinese was essentially a footnote. Prior to packing the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to watch a webcast of the game, Napoli supporters had been having a good time in Naples all day.
Over 10,000 supporters made the trip up north to support their team in Udine, but after just 13 minutes they were brought to complete silence when Lovric was given plenty of room in the box before curling the hosts in front.
Napoli labored in the first half, but after the break, Osimhen found the back of the net after Kvaratskhelia had forced Udinese goalkeeper Marco Silvestri into a fine save.
Napoli played a masterful game of game management after grabbing the lead, keeping their opponents at a distance.
As soon as the game ended, Napoli supporters ran onto the field, sparking celebrations in both Udine and Naples.
Osimhen told DAZN, “It is an amazing feeling; we have waited so long for this.”
We won’t soon forget being able to give the Scudetto to the Neapolitans; it will remain a memorable experience in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
