Napoli was confirmed as Italian champions on Thursday night, winning their first title in 33 years, following a 1-1 draw at Udinese.
Needing only a draw to take an unassailable 16-point lead with five games remaining, Serie A’s top scorer, Victor Osimhen, equalised for Napoli in the 52nd minute to spark wild celebrations throughout Naples, inside the stadium in Udine and beyond.
But here are five facts you probably didn’t know:
- De Laurentiis took over the club in 2004 when Napoli was declared bankrupt, restarting in the third division.
- It’s the first time a club south of Italy’s traditional soccer capitals of Milan and Turin has won the league since Roma claimed the title in 2001.
- Napoli matched the record of clinching with five rounds to spare, shared with Torino (1947-48), Fiorentina (1955-56), Inter Milan (2006-07) and Juventus (2018-19).
- Luciano Spalletti’s side went unbeaten through the first 15 games of the campaign, including an 11-match winning streak. After their first loss, away at Inter, Napoli immediately went on an eight-game winning run to go 18 points clear at the top and put a stranglehold on the Scudetto.
- The team has been led by Osimhen, who fittingly secured the title Thursday with his 22nd goal of the campaign. During his goal celebration, Osimhen broke his face mask and the Nigeria forward had to play without it for a few minutes while it was repaired by Napoli staff members on the sideline.
