Key events
Watch Napoli clinch the Scottetto.
Antonio Conte: “It happened again, and it’s something wonderful. When we got to the stadium, it was honestly difficult to get in, as I don’t know how many people were there. I had a slight thought, if we let these people down, it’d be something we carried with us for a long time. All the credit goes to the boys. Winning in Naples is difficult, these boys are doing it for the second time in two years. They are serious boys, you don’t leave in a team that always plays to win.”
“We did our part, we knew we were depending on others. We couldn’t have done more today, but we have to put it behind us and prepare for the final,” Inter captain Stefan de Vrij told DAZN. “We didn’t deserve (the title) because if we’re not top after 38 games, then whoever is top deserves it, but there’s a feeling that we could have done more in the league.
“There’s a huge desire to play a great final next week. We’ve worked really hard this year and done very well in the Champions League. We’ll do everything we can to finish on a high.”
Jonathan Corrigan: “Do you think a big premier league club with champions league football could swoop in for the free scoring Scot? Spurs maybe? Btw I’m not spurs fan but it would wind up my Man U supporting friends and family.”
Richard Ibbotson: “Delighted for the team and everyone in Napoli tonight… I’d love to be in Piazza Dante or Piazza del Plebiscito tonight for one hell of a party. Fantastic goals from McTominay and Lukaku. Let the crazy fireworks commence!!!”
Tony Dickinson: “The noise has more or less stopped now, but the racket since the final whistle blew has been tremendous – even in beautiful downtown Chiaia.
“I’d send you a short video taken from the balcony of my apartment twenty minutes ago, but I have been warned that it would break the internet.”
Confirmed: Scott McTominay is voted the MVP in Serie A. You have to be delighted for him.
Napoli are crowned champions of Italy.
That’s it, the second time in three years, with a very different team. Antonio Conte has shown his mastery of Serie A, and he’s done with his key players being two Scots and Romelu Lukaku. Inter could not defend their title. The Champions League final awaits in Munich for them. They leave the field in disappointment in Como, where the game finishes first. Eventually, the whistle blows in Naples and the Scudetto – the Scottetto? – is in Neapolitan hands.
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
There’s less than two minutes left on the clock and the celebrations have almost started. The fourth Scudetto is coming. A wild night lies ahead.
Como 0-2 Inter
Time ticks on in Como, and nobody is busting a gut. The gig is done.
It’s Scott McTominay’s world and we all live in it.
Justin Kavanagh: “Scott McTominay will never have to pay for a drink again in the city of Naples. Or a pizza. In fact, what Neapolitan selling anything is going to take money off the Scot now? See you, Scott, ye’ve reached the Promised Land.”
Zach Neeley gets in touch: “I believe Lukaku has played 638, I bet the AI is adding appearances and starts even though that’s double counting.”
The machines are taking over and making up a right load of nonsense.
Como 0-2 Inter
Paz, who looked rather decent, has been subbed off by his manager, Cesc Fabregas. Alessio Iovine, who announced his retirement from professional football this week, has come on for his final bow.
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
Giovanni Simeone, son of Diego, is on as Lukaku’s replacement. Everyone fancies a goal. Cagliari are sat deep, too deep and giving up chances.
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
Lukaku, Conte’s big summer signing – as well as McTom and Wee Billy Gilmour – leaves the field. Up in the stands, Don Antonio is still agonising. He has won the Scudetto in all but one of his completed seasons. He’s also won the Scudetto at the first time of asking, just as he did at Chelsea. Remember when he made a champion of Victor Moses?
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
Feels like we are in the final throes, a 20 minute celebration. Scott McTominay is nailed on to be MVP, too, of Serie A. That would have seemed an outlandish prospect when he was growing up in Lancaster. At the end of his first football season on Earth, the winner was Roberto Mancini. The year after? Ronaldo.
Como 0-2 Inter
Beppe Marotta and Javier Zanetti look on from the Como stands. Bigger prizes are on offer next weekend but a failure to retain the title will hurt.
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
Neres is laid up by a bulwarking run by Lukaku, and it takes a fine save from Sherri. Big Rom is fully enjoying himself now. That usually means he cannot be stopped. He’s 32 now but still got plenty left. Google AI tells me “Romelu Lukaku’s career spans 1118 games across various competitions.”
Can that be true?
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
Off goes Politano, with David Neres coming on for the champions elect.
Como 0-2 Inter
Barella is coming on against his old club. This now has to be treated as a training run for Munich next Saturday. Bisseck, the Inter defender, has hurt himself in deflecting the ball. DiMarco goes off, and on comes Denzel Dumfries and another United legend in Matteo Darmian.
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
The Diego Armando Maradona Stadium is rocking, ecstatic scenes. The Scott McTominay Stadium, as it will be called in the future.
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
Lukaku was booked for his goal celebration. The goals scored by two players Manchester United willingly sold. It’s a funny old game, if you don’t despair of United. In Spain, Antony’s scored a goal for Betis tonight.
Justin Kavanagh gets in touch: “I know it’s got the same 1-0 scoreline in the corner of the screen, but is this the same sport as the chaos-ball thing we were watching on Wednesday night? There’s so much joined-up passing the round thing to a teammate?”
Goal! Como 0-2 Inter (Correa, 51)
Correa strokes in but the celebrations are muted. They scored almost at the same time as each other. Inter keeping their side of the bargain but so are Napoli.
Goal! Napoli 2-0 Cagliari (Lukaku, 51)
That’s the Lukaku we remember, blazing past defenders and crashing home. The former Inter man looks to have secured the title.
Napoli 1-0 Cagliari
It seems Antonio Conte has asked his team to be less frenzied and to hold on to it. Still, they have Lukaku in attack….
Como 0-1 Inter
Yann Sommer is facing a free-kick that Paz takes, only for the wall to do its job. Next, Como want a penalty as Vojvoda swings at a loose ball. Did it hit a hand? No VAR on the play.
Napoli 1-0 Cagliari
As Pepe Reina gets out of the shower in Como – not much hair to wash – Napoli are facing down a Cagliari corner.
The second half is here
There are 45 minutes left to decide the destiny of the Scudetto.
Karl Matthews gets in touch: “The Neapolitan singer songwriter Pino Daniele (1955-2015) is the guitar hero in the pic. All quiet here for now in Torre del Greco just down the coast from Naples.”
Fraser Pirie gets in touch: “20 years ago ‘the helicopter changed direction’ when a late Motherwell goal v Celtic handed the title to their rivals Rangers who were playing against Hibs in Edinburgh. Motherwell to Edinburgh is a considerably smaller distance than Como to Naples though. So where is the Scudetto trophy currently and what is the plan for a presentation?”
To two Scottish players?
Both halves will have lengthy amounts of time added on. VAR has played its part. Lot of arguing between the teams, too. Half-time is called in Naples, and in Como, Inter have bonus football to try and find another goal. Correa fires over but that’s it. Both teams lead 1-0, but Inter are playing Como, down to ten men after Reina’s red card.
Como 0-1 Inter
Reina leaves the field with sadness, and the Inter players come to wave him off, including Sommer who offered a huge hug. What a way to sign off. On comes Butez, his replacement as Caqueret is subbed off to bring on a keeper.
Pepe Reina sent off!
Como 0-1 Inter
VAR is in session, and just as slow. Did Pepe Reina foul Taremi outside the box? He did, a DOGSO trip. What an end to his career! Sent off!
Goal! Napoli 1-0 Cagliari (McTominay, 42)
Who else? The new Maradona, it’s Scott McTominay. An acrobatic finish like Bryan Robson at his sharp best.
Napoli 0-0 Cagliari
Oh, so close. Cagliari throwing man and body in front of the ball. Spinazzola shoots but Sherri is having the game of his life.
Napoli 0-0 Cagliari
Napoli corner, but Olivera heads back behind the goal.
Como 0-1 Inter
Sommer forced to make a smothering save. Como are not taking the biscotti, they fancy a piece of the action. Those time problems in Naples are likely to have their say in events.
Napoli 0-0 Cagliari
This VAR is taking an age. This is a crazy amount of time. Makoumbou awaits his fate. The VAR communication is jiggered. Time will be added on. Makoumbou and Politano’s bookings both stand.
Napoli 0-0 Cagliari
Tempers fraying in Naples. Both teams look to be winding up each other. Should Cagliari be a man down? Makoumbou threw out a forearm smash on Raspadori….could that be a VAR red? There’s been no play in many minutes.
Como 0-1 Inter
Paz shows off his chops with a neat turn and some skill to shoot wide.
