Udinese 1-1 Napoli: Southern Italian team wins Serie A title for first time in 33 years

1 year ago 29
ARTICLE AD BOX

Last updated on 3 minutes ago.From the section European Football

Victor Osimhen celebratesNapoli are 16 points clear at the top of Serie A

Napoli won their first Serie A title for 33 years as they drew with Udinese at Dacia Arena to spark jubilant celebrations back in Naples.

They last won the league in 1990 with a Diego Maradona-inspired side adding to their first title three years earlier.

Victor Osimhen smashed in a 52nd minute equaliser after Sandi Lovric had given Udinese a shock lead.

And Napoli held on to the point they needed to win their third Serie A title with five games to spare.

Napoli end three decades of hurt

Napoli's previous two titles came in the days of Argentina legend Maradona - who their stadium is now named after - in 1987 and 1990.

Following those glory days the club fell into financial decline, relegation and bankruptcy; playing in Serie C as recently as 2006.

They have won the Coppa Italia three times in the past 11 seasons but it is the Scudetto the Napoli fans always craved.

They now have a new cast of superstars, with Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen scoring 21 goals in 26 league games and Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia contributing 12 goals and 10 assists.

At 64 boss Luciano Spalletti, who twice won the Coppa Italia with Roma, becomes the oldest manager to win Serie A.

His team had the chance to lift the title with six games to spare last weekend but could only draw with local rivals Salernitana.

But with a 16-point advantage over second-placed Lazio their third Serie A title is now confirmed.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Udinese

Formation 3-5-1-1

  • 1Silvestri
  • 50Nascimento França
  • 29Bijol
  • 18Pérez
  • 19EhizibueBooked at 17minsSubstituted forEboseleat 82'minutes
  • 24SamardzicSubstituted forThauvinat 82'minutes
  • 11Souza Silva
  • 4LovricSubstituted forArslanat 78'minutes
  • 13UdogieSubstituted forZeegelaarat 74'minutes
  • 37Pereyra
  • 30Nestorovski

Substitutes

  • 2Ebosele
  • 3Masina
  • 5Arslan
  • 8Zeegelaar
  • 14Abankwah
  • 15Ulineia Buta
  • 20Padelli
  • 26Thauvin
  • 39Semedo Moura Sousa
  • 67Guessand
  • 99Piana

Napoli

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Meret
  • 22Di Lorenzo
  • 13Rrahmani
  • 3Kim Min-jae
  • 17Olivera
  • 99Zambo Anguissa
  • 68Lobotka
  • 91NdombéléSubstituted forZielinskiat 64'minutes
  • 7Elmas
  • 9Osimhen
  • 77KvaratskheliaSubstituted forLozanoat 86'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Demme
  • 5Nunes Jesus
  • 11Lozano
  • 12Marfella
  • 18Simeone
  • 19Bereszynski
  • 20Zielinski
  • 23Zerbin
  • 31Zedadka
  • 55Østigård
  • 70Gaetano
  • 81Raspadori
  • 95Gollini

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Udinese 1, Napoli 1.

  2. Second Half ends, Udinese 1, Napoli 1.

  3. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  4. Delay in match because of an injury Marco Silvestri (Udinese).

  5. Corner, Napoli. Conceded by Rodrigo Becão.

  6. Victor Osimhen (Napoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Foul by Nehuén Pérez (Udinese).

  8. Substitution, Napoli. Hirving Lozano replaces Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

  9. Substitution, Udinese. Florian Thauvin replaces Lazar Samardzic.

  10. Substitution, Udinese. Festy Ebosele replaces Kingsley Ehizibue because of an injury.

  11. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  12. Delay in match because of an injury Kingsley Ehizibue (Udinese).

  13. Substitution, Udinese. Tolgay Arslan replaces Sandi Lovric.

  14. Eljif Elmas (Napoli) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Foul by Ilija Nestorovski (Udinese).

  16. Stanislav Lobotka (Napoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  17. Foul by Kingsley Ehizibue (Udinese).

  18. Substitution, Udinese. Marvin Zeegelaar replaces Destiny Udogie because of an injury.

  19. Offside, Udinese. Rodrigo Becão tries a through ball, but Ilija Nestorovski is caught offside.

  20. Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Read Entire Article