Napoli stand just 90 minutes away from clinching their second Serie A title in three seasons, heading into the final weekend of the campaign with a slender one-point advantage over Inter Milan.
Antonio Conte’s side will host Cagliari under the lights of a packed Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Friday night, while title rivals Inter face a tough away trip to in-form Como at the same time. The equation is simple: match or better Inter’s result, and the Scudetto returns to Naples.
But Napoli’s quest for a fourth league crown is shrouded in uncertainty, with Italian media reporting that Conte is set to return to Juventus—where he famously won three league titles as a manager—after just one season in charge.
“Winning the Scudetto would repay all of the effort that I’ve put in this season. I know that I’m very tired and that I’m just about OK to get to the end of the season,” Conte admitted following last weekend’s tense goalless draw at Parma.
The final day won’t feature either Conte or Inter boss Simone Inzaghi on the touchline, as both managers serve suspensions after being sent off in a heated penultimate round. Inzaghi’s frustration boiled over after a late penalty decision helped Lazio snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw at the San Siro, a result that saw Inter players boycott post-match interviews.
Conte’s own clash with former colleague Antonio Gagliardi on the Parma sidelines underlined the pressure mounting in Naples, even as fans celebrated a timely helping hand—ironically, from Lazio’s Pedro—whose 90th-minute equaliser against Inter kept Napoli top.
A title play-off remains a mathematical possibility should Napoli lose and Inter draw, with Serie A ready to stage a decider on Monday if needed. However, that scenario appears unlikely: Cagliari have nothing to play for, while Como are on a hot streak, unbeaten in eight and pushing for their best finish in nearly four decades.
Meanwhile, Juventus need just one more win—against relegation-threatened Venezia on Sunday—to seal the final Champions League berth ahead of Roma and Lazio.
The Serie A finale promises tension, drama, and perhaps one last twist in a title race that’s been anything but predictable. Whether this is Conte’s swansong or his latest statement of intent, Friday night in Naples could be historic.