Napoli wins Italian League Championship for the Third Time in History
Goals: Udinese – Napoli – Played on 05/04/ 2023
Napoli was crowned champion of the Italian League after its 1-1 draw with Udinese, on Thursday evening at Friuli Stadium, in the 33rd round of the competition.
The Title Race
Napoli had been leading the league for most of the season and had a comfortable 13-point cushion over second-placed Lazio coming into the match against Udinese. However, they knew that a win or a draw would be enough to secure the Scudetto, and they started the match with a lot of intensity and purpose.
The Match
Despite Napoli’s pressure from the start, Udinese managed to score through Lovric, who received the ball inside the area and fired a powerful shot into the net. Kvaratskhelia tried to get a penalty kick after he penetrated and fell into the area, but the referee indicated that the game should continue, and the var ordered the continuation of the game.
Napoli responded with a series of attacks, with Osimhen and Insigne both coming close to scoring. Silvestri blocked Osimhen’s header after he met a cross inside the area. The goalkeeper turned it away for a corner, but the referee indicated that there was a case of offside on the attacker. Merritt saved his goal from an opportunity after a new shot from Lovric, the owner of the goal, who fired a powerful ball from outside the penalty area, Merritt was on the lookout for it.
Napoli equalized through Osimhen, after a corner was executed and reached Kvaratskhelia, who hit a ball that bounced off the Udinese goalkeeper and the Nigerian followed it into the net.
The Second Half
In the second half, Napoli continued to dominate possession and create chances. Osimhen responded quickly and threatened the home side’s goal, after a cross ball, which the striker rose to the top of everyone, to convert it with a header that passed next to the left post of Sevelistri. Picao almost doubled Udinese’s lead, after a ball reached him on the edge of the penalty area, to fire a missile shot that Merritt shone with and pushed it away from his goal.