Napoli are within touching distance of securing their second Serie A title in three years, entering the final weekend with a slender one-point advantage over Inter Milan.
Antonio Conte’s side will host Cagliari at a sold-out Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Friday evening, while Inter travel to face an in-form Como side. Both matches kick off simultaneously, setting up a tense finale to the Italian top-flight campaign.
After last weekend’s tense 0-0 draw away to Parma, Napoli know that a win — or simply matching Inter’s result — will be enough to clinch their fourth league title. The draw extended their lead at the top but failed to guarantee them the championship.
Despite their strong position, Conte’s future at Napoli remains uncertain, with widespread speculation in Italy suggesting he could return to Juventus — the club where he enjoyed great success both as a player and as a manager.
“Winning the Scudetto would justify all the hard work I’ve put in this season,” said Conte after the stalemate. “I’m exhausted, but I’ve just enough in the tank to get over the line.”
Neither Conte nor his Inter counterpart Simone Inzaghi will be on the touchline for Friday’s deciders, after both were dismissed in last weekend’s heated encounters. Napoli and Inter’s 2-2 draw was marred by late drama, including a contentious penalty which saw Lazio’s Pedro equalise in the 90th minute. Inter were so incensed by the decision they refused post-match media duties.
Conte, meanwhile, clashed with Parma assistant Antonio Gagliardi — formerly a colleague with the Italian national side — in a fiery conclusion to Napoli’s goalless draw. Ironically, Pedro’s late equaliser in the Inter game made him a hero in Naples, with his 14th goal of the campaign keeping the title in Napoli’s grasp.
The Serie A finale has been brought forward to Friday to give Inter time to prepare for their Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on 31 May. There remains a faint chance of a title play-off if Napoli lose to Cagliari and Inter draw at Como — a scenario that would leave both teams level on points.
Originally, any such decider was to be played next week. However, with Inter’s European final looming, and reported objections from Napoli and broadcasters DAZN to an earlier schedule, the play-off has now been pencilled in for Monday, should it be required.
Inter appear to face the more difficult assignment on Friday. Como, sitting 10th, have amassed 20 points from their last eight matches and are on course for their best league finish since 1986.
Meanwhile, Juventus are aiming to secure fourth place and a Champions League berth by taking all three points in their Sunday visit to Venezia. The hosts are embroiled in a relegation fight, part of a five-way scrap to avoid the drop.
