Napoli are Winter Champions and only five sides in the last 23 years have failed to win the Scudetto after leading at halfway – but one of those was Napoli.
The Partenopei beat Crotone 1-0 at the Stadio Scida with a goal from Marek Hamsik to confirm their status as table-toppers at the midway stage of the season.
Over the last 23 years, only five of the Winter Champions have then failed to take the title come May.
Napoli are Winter Champions and only five sides in the last 23 years have failed to win the Scudetto after leading at halfway – but one of those was Napoli.
The Partenopei beat Crotone 1-0 at the Stadio Scida with a goal from Marek Hamsik to confirm their status as table-toppers at the midway stage of the season.
Over the last 23 years, only five of the Winter Champions have then failed to take the title come May.
They were Fiorentina in 1998-99, ultimately pipped to the post by Milan and Lazio, as their form fell away after Gabriel Batistuta’s injury.
Juventus were leading a year later, but Lazio won the Scudetto on a dramatic final day of the season.
Roma were Winter Champions in 2001-02, but beaten to the title by Juventus.
The only side since then that had the Winter crown and failed to win the Scudetto was Napoli, who had 41 points at the halfway stage in 2015-16 and ultimately finished second behind the Bianconeri.
There is another curious quirk, as this is the fifth time Napoli have been Winter Champions of Serie A.
In the first and third years, they went on to win the Scudetto, finishing with the silver medal in the second and fourth campaigns.
If the pattern were to repeat itself, then the Partenopei would be due a title.
Winter champions/Scudetto winners:
1994-95: Juventus/Juventus
1995-96: Milan/Milan
1996-97: Juventus/Juventus
1997-98: Juventus/Juventus
1998-99: Fiorentina/Milan
1999-2000: Juventus/Lazio
2000-01: Roma/Roma
2001-02: Roma/Juventus
2002-03: Milan/Juventus
2003-04: Roma + Milan/Milan
2004-05: Juventus/Juventus*
2005-06: Juventus/Juventus*
2006-07: Inter/Inter
2007-08: Inter/Inter
2008-09: Inter/Inter
2009-10: Inter/Inter
2010-11: Milan/Milan
2011-12: Juventus/Juventus
2012-13: Juventus/Juventus
2013-14: Juventus/Juventus
2014-15: Juventus/Juventus
2015-16: Napoli/Juventus
2016-17: Juventus/Juventus
2017-18: Napoli/?
*Juventus finished top, but title revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal