City of Naples prepares for title celebration
Napoli is on the edge of securing its first Serie A title since 1990. With a crushing 19-point lead in the league, the Southern Italian city is already preparing to paint its town blue and white to celebrate this historic achievement. Naples and the surrounding areas are decorated with thousands of flags, banners, and murals depicting the number three, which symbolizes Napoli’s third league title. The city’s craftsmen have created figurines of Napoli’s new heroes, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and cardboard silhouettes of the players line the Spanish Quarters in Naples.
Posters showing Diego Maradona, who led Napoli to their first league title in 1987, have been put up all over the city. One shows Maradona in heaven, handing over the Scudetto to Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the two main stars of the current team.
Residents in Naples have also launched various fundraising initiatives to finance a Scudetto party that they say will last for days. The aim is to paint the city’s walls and streets with blue hues, symbolizing Napoli’s team colors.
Juventus’ shadow looms over Napoli’s potential title victory
For most Napoli fans, this Scudetto championship is much more than just a trophy. It is seen as a way to regain pride for Southern Italy as Juventus has won 36 Serie A titles compared to Napoli’s two. Only one team can wear the Scudetto patch in a given season, and that honour goes to the defending champions. Should Napoli win it this season, it would break Juventus’ nine consecutive championships.
However, there are still some concerns that Juventus could postpone Napoli’s coronation if its punishment for transfer trickery is overturned. These concerns might explain why Napoli fans have been taking their celebrations seriously long before the trophy is officially theirs to lift.
AC Milan aims to spoil Napoli’s party
AC Milan will be Napoli’s opponents in their first game since they can officially win the Scudetto. The match, scheduled for April 18, is the first of three major clashes between two of Serie A’s giants.
While Milan is currently in fourth place, they will aim to spoil Napoli’s party while securing their spot in the next season’s Champions League. However, AC Milan will be missing two key players, Pierre Kalulu and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Olivier Giroud will start up front.
Napoli has a solid team and has dropped only five points at home all season. They also have Victor Osimhen as their leading scorer, who has become a hero in Naples. Some cafes even offer an “Osimhen coffee,” and pastry shops make desserts in his honour.
Significance of the Scudetto in Italian football
The Scudetto is an epitome of royalty for any team that lifts it at the end of any Serie A season. Only 16 clubs have ever won the Serie A title, and Juventus and AC Milan are among the three teams ever to lift the trophy at least ten times. Inter Milan has won the trophy 19 times, whereas Juventus have lifted it 36 times, thus holding the record for maximum wins.
The Scudetto is a patch designed in colours representing Italy’s flag which awarded to the champions of Serie A as a symbol of their place at the top of Italy’s footballing pyramid. First awarded in 1961 and presented to teams as representative symbols of their place within Italian football.
Conclusion:
Napoli fans make no bones about this – winning this Serie A championship is more than just about finally ending years of hurt. It is more about taking the Scudetto title from the likes of Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan in northern Italy, a region of the country that is often perceived as being wealthier and having more power.
Should Napoli win it, it will also mean that they have broken a historical record for Juventus by surpassing their consecutive league titles. Napoli’s fans are now confident that this team has what it takes to go all the way, but they will be wary of the challenges that lie ahead. One thing is for sure: if Napoli lifts the Scudetto soon, Naples will erupt in celebrations like no other.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
