With Napoli winning their third Serie A title ever, Stephen Kasiewicz looks to the five key games in the Partenopei’s historic campaign under Luciano Spalletti.
Napoli sauntered to a momentous third Scudetto by playing a stirring style of football which thrilled football fans across the world. Expert tipsters thought the Partenopei would be lucky to claim a Champions League spot after losing iconic captain Lorenzo Insigne, key defender Kalidou Koulibaly and legendary forward Dries Mertens before the campaign began.
Yet coach Luciano Spalletti defied the detractors to guide a squad full of new Napoli heroes to a first title in 33 years while committed to a high-pressing, entertaining game plan which left opponents chasing empty spaces.
Napoli revved up and sped into first place after seven rounds, accelerating and lapping the chasing pack several times over in an unforgettably dominant season. Here are five memorable matches from the Partenopei’s brilliant third championship victory.
Lazio 1-2 Napoli, Stadio Olimpico, September 3, 2022
The monster and the magician elevated Napoli to second in the standings on the fifth matchday as they rallied from an early goal down to triumph in Rome.
An unusually hesitant Partenopei rearguard allowed Mattia Zaccagni room to curl home with only four minutes on the clock. A grave-looking Spalletti patrolled the touchline as emerging star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sparkled. The Georgian alchemist twirled through the turf to thump against the post. Napoli levelled before the break, the Korean monster Kim Min-jae jumped unopposed to head in off the upright from Piotr Zieliński’s corner.
Buoyed they flooded forward in the second half; Victor Osimhen nodded off the post and magic man Kvaratskhelia blazed over before smashing into the net from André-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s superb cutback.
Spalletti’s men put down a marker in a rousing comeback victory which highlighted the absolute best of their summer signings.
Milan 1-2 Napoli, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, September 18, 2022
Kvaratskhelia had acquired a grand nickname and hordes of defensive shadows when Napoli defeated the defending champions in an epic at San Siro.
The winger christened ‘Kvaradona’ by an adoring congregation of Tifosi – who likened him to club symbol Diego Maradona – was now a major target for opposition defenders in his seventh Serie A appearance.
Simon Kjær and Davide Calabria were both yellow carded for hacks on the twinkle-toed Georgian as goalkeeper Alex Meret kept the Partenopei in it with two wonderful stops to thwart Olivier Giroud and Rade Krunić.
Spalletti watched from the stands as a dreaded VAR check showed Kvaratskhelia had been fouled by substitute Sergiño Dest in the box. Matteo Politano coolly converted the penalty, but the Rossoneri hit back as Theo Hernández surged down to the left to set up a straightforward finish for Giroud. Napoli were not content with a point and super sub, Giovanni Simeone, settled things as he connected with Mário Rui’s perfectly flighted cross to nod in the winner. The Partenopei rose to first place in the table and never looked back.
Napoli 5-1 Juventus, Stadio Diego Maradona, January 13, 2023
An astounding statement win that stunned Italian football. In a game that will be cherished by Napoli fans for years to come, the Partenopei thrashed the Old Lady in an incredibly emphatic fashion.
The ‘KO’ combination of Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen delivered to devastating effect as Napoli recorded their highest-ever margin of victory against old foes Juve in Serie A.
The Stadio Maradona erupted as Osimhen nodded home after Kvaratskhelia’s acrobatic volley was parried. The Bianconeri did not capitulate as Ángel Di María struck the bar. Yet Napoli’s ferocious pressing and attacking intent paid off as Osimhen pounced on lax defending and squared for Kvaratskhelia to curl low into the net.
Ecstatic celebrations followed but Juve reduced the arrears before the break as Di Maria found room in the box to send a shot just beyond the reach of home shot-stopper Meret.
A one-sided second half sent the Napoli support into a football utopia as central defender Amir Rrahmani slammed low into the far corner after Kvaratskhelia’s corner was cleared. Three wasn’t enough, the Gli Azzurri pushed for more. The Georgian winger sprinkled more of his magic dust with a delightful cross which his Nigerian forward partner headed into the net from close range.
Substitute Elif Elmas rounded off a historic triumph by cutting inside to fire home a fifth as Napoli edged nine clear of Milan in first place.
Napoli 2-1 Roma, Stadio Diego Maradona, January 29, 2023
Osimhen somehow managed to better the world-class strike which downed the Giallorossi in round 11 with a breathtaking goal as the Partenopei surged 13 points clear in the Classifica.
The peerless Nigerian attacker displayed all his ability by juggling Kvaratskhelia’s left-wing cross high on his chest and knee and then powered an unstoppable swerving volley high into the net.
Barely 20 minutes had passed as the brilliant striker produced one of the highlights of an exhilarating campaign as a helpless Roma rearguard were left mere spectators.
Goalkeeper Meret continued to banish lingering demons from the previous term as he stood firm until the final 15 minutes. Stephan El Shaarawy snuck in at the back post to nudge Roma level. However, outstanding replacement Simeone stepped up again with a wonderful winner four minutes from time. Inspirational captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and midfield creator Zieliński combined, and the Argentinian lashed into the top corner to seal a season double for Spalletti over José Mourinho’s side.
Juventus 0-1 Napoli, Juventus Stadium, April 23, 2023
Although the title was all but secured the Partenopei made history by beating the Bianconeri home and away for only the fourth time in the top flight. Napoli defeated Juve twice on the way to claiming their first Scudetto in the 1986-87 season, as well as in 1957-58 and 2009-2010.
Spalletti’s side marked another milestone at a stadium which had so often been the scene of heartbreak for the Campanian club. Controversy usually accompanied any road win in Turin, and this was no different.
Juve stopper Federico Gatti lashed out at Kvaratskhelia without being reprimanded in a tense opening period of few real chances.
The irrepressible Osimhen fired off the post and clipped over as Napoli sought to break the stalemate in the second half. The Old Lady had two goals ruled before substitute Giacomo Raspadori claimed a dramatic stoppage-time winner for the runaway league leaders. The Italy international sent a superbly struck left-foot volley through the legs of Wojciech Szczęsny from a deep Elmas cross to seal a noteworthy victory for Napoli.
@SKasiewicz