The Premier League might well be done and dusted, but it’s very much all to play for in Serie A.
Juventus, going for their seventh league title in a row, had the chance to move seven points clear of Napoli on Sunday evening as they hosted Maurizio Sarri’s side in Turin – a lead which would almost certainly have killed off the title race.
Although the visitors played the better football in the first half, chances were sparse. After the break, it seemed Napoli’s chance was going to pass them by. However, a late, late header from Kalidou Koulibaly was enough for them to take all three points and their first ever victory in the Juventus Stadium.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!! ⚽️
Napoli have done it! A late, late winner from Kalidou Koulibaly has kept their Serie A dream alive!
Incredible scenes in Turin! pic.twitter.com/tcekE3772x
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 22, 2018
Now just a single point behind Max Allegri’s team, there’s genuine belief that this could finally be the year Napoli end their 28-year wait for a Scudetto – especially with Juve facing difficult away fixtures at Internazionale and AS Roma as part of their run-in.
A sense of just what the victory meant to the club’s supporters came as cameras focused on the away end during the seconds after the full-time whistle.
"Yet another twist in the most compelling of Serie A seasons!"
• Tears of joy 😅
• Limbs everywhere 🙌
• Fist pumping 👊Just look at what it means to Napoli after a massive, massive win in Turin. pic.twitter.com/TjwrYsLx0K
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 22, 2018
Another reminder of this came hours later, shortly after the team landed back in Naples.
At nearly half past three on Monday morning, hundreds – if not thousands – of Napoli fans turned up at the city’s Capodichino airport to give the team a memorable welcome back to the city.
Footage taken from the bus shows the scenes which greeted them. Let’s just hope for their sakes none of them had work in the morning…
Ecco l’accoglienza a Capodichino vista dal pullman #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/DhIy6k7C65
— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) April 23, 2018
The club’s official Twitter channel also posted a couple more pictures of their welcome home.
5️⃣0️⃣ metri dopo…
⚽️ #JuveNapoli 0-1
💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/rhpv00fuZ6— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) April 23, 2018
💙 una notte incredibile 🚎
⚽️ #JuveNapoli 0-1
😃 #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/JRUu84gW8V— Official SSC Napoli (@sscnapoli) April 23, 2018
Napoli’s next fixture comes away in Florence against ninth-place Fiorentina on Sunday. They then host Turin’s other club, Torino, before traveling to Genoa to face Sampdoria. Finally, their last game of the season sees them welcome Crotone to the Stadio San Paolo.
