Napoli were crowned Serie A champions on Friday night after a 2-0 win over Cagliari, edging out Inter Milan by just one point on the final day of the season. A stunning scissor-kick goal from Scott McTominay and a second-half strike from Romelu Lukaku ensured Antonio Conte’s side secured the Scudetto in dramatic fashion.
Heading into the final round of matches, Napoli held a narrow lead over Inter, who were playing simultaneously against Como. The title race was finely balanced and momentarily swung in Inter’s favor when Stefan de Vrij put them ahead against Como in the 20th minute, temporarily moving them above Napoli in the live standings.
But McTominay calmed the nerves in Naples with a spectacular 42nd-minute goal, acrobatically converting a cross from Matteo Politano. The goal re-established Napoli’s position at the top and sent the home crowd into raptures at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Lukaku added a second just after the break, shrugging off a Cagliari defender and calmly finishing past goalkeeper Alen Sherri. From then on, the atmosphere in the stadium transformed into a festive celebration. Flares lit up the stands, smoke drifted across the pitch, and fireworks filled the sky as Napoli supporters sensed the title was within reach.
It was a crowning moment not only for Napoli but also for McTominay, who was named Serie A Player of the Season shortly after the final whistle. The Scotland international has played a key role throughout the campaign, scoring 12 goals and providing six assists in 34 league appearances. His contributions from midfield have been vital in Conte’s title-winning side.
Reflecting on the achievement, McTominay expressed pride in the team’s journey. “The sacrifice of every single player in this group is just incredible,” he said. “The people deserve it, as they’ve been behind us from day one. For me to come here and experience this, it’s just a dream.”
Among Napoli fans, McTominay has earned the affectionate nickname “McFratm” a blend of his surname and the Neapolitan term “Fratm,” meaning “my brother.” Despite admitting his Italian speaking skills are still developing, he has embraced the culture and community, even learning local phrases like “festeggiamo, andiamo” (“let’s go celebrate”).
Meanwhile, Inter did their part by defeating Como 2-0 away, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Napoli. Joaquín Correa scored Inter’s second early in the second half after De Vrij had opened the scoring with a header from a Hakan Calhanoglu cross. Despite the victory, disappointment lingered among the Inter players and staff.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, serving a touchline ban, had rotated his squad with one eye on their upcoming Champions League final on 31 May. Captain De Vrij acknowledged the missed opportunity but remained focused on their European ambitions. “We did our part, but we knew we were depending on others,” he said. “We didn’t deserve the title if we’re not top after 38 games, but there’s a feeling that we could have done more.”
Como’s goalkeeper Pepe Reina, playing his final professional match, initially kept his team in the game with a fine save from Mehdi Taremi, but his farewell ended on a sour note when he was sent off just before halftime following a VAR decision for a last-man foul.
Despite Inter’s victory, the night belonged to Napoli and to McTominay, whose unforgettable goal capped off a season to remember and sparked celebrations across Naples as the club lifted the Serie A trophy once again.
