Napoli Hope Diego Armando Maradona Stadium's Luck Will Seal Serie A Title

The competition for the Scudetto title will continue until the last day of the Serie A competition. Napoli, which is at the top of the standings, must wait another week to secure the championship after only managing to draw 0-0 against the relegation-threatened team, Parma, on Monday (19/5/2025) early morning WIB.

Fortunately for Napoli, the second-placed team in the standings, Inter Milan failed to take advantage of their rival's slip, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Lazio in a dramatic match. With this result, Napoli, who has accumulated 79 points, remains one point ahead of Inter with only one match left in the competition.

Napoli hopes for the blessing of the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to secure the Scudetto title when hosting Cagliari on Sunday (25/5/2025). A victory over the bottom team will allow Antonio Conte's squad to clinch the Serie A championship. Napoli's home stadium is named after their legendary player, Maradona, who is often referred to as the greatest footballer in history.

Conte's team faced misfortune when facing the home team Parma, as they had multiple opportunities to win the match. It was recorded that two shots from Napoli players hit the goalpost, namely by Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano. Meanwhile, a shot from midfielder Scott McTominay was saved by the Parma goalkeeper before hitting the crossbar.

Napoli also believed they would secure full points after being awarded a penalty in the 96th minute due to winger David Neres being fouled by Giovanni Simeone in the penalty area. However, after a VAR review, the referee overturned the penalty.

The fierce battle at the Ennio Tardini Stadium ended with the expulsion of Conte and Parma coach Cristian Chivu, who were involved in a scuffle on the sidelines. As a result of the red card, Conte will have to miss the decisive championship match against Cagliari in the final week of Serie A.

Napoli is slightly advantaged as they will face a bottom team that is already safe from the threat of relegation after Cagliari defeated Venezia, 3-0. "We are very close, but there is one final step we must take in front of our supporters. We have been at the top for most of the season, despite many difficulties," said Conte to DAZN.

Inter will face the host Como in their final match. Regardless of the outcome of this match, it will not affect the standings if Napoli manages to defeat Cagliari. "It depends on the players who have given their all. I truly hope we can become champions because it would be an extraordinary achievement," Conte added.

According to Conte, the competition for the Serie A title is currently exhausting him. He stated that this is the most challenging season of his career in football.

"I gave everything, beyond the limit. I also know I was tired. I just wanted to get through the end of the season," Conte said.

Regarding the red card he received, Conte accused the Parma players of deliberately wasting time during the match. "I am frustrated with Parma. I am used to English football, where matches rarely stop because someone pretends to cramp or is injured. It is very annoying, and that is why I was sent off," said Conte.

However, the drama of the Scudetto fight is still possible if Napoli loses in the last match and Inter draws so that both teams have the same points. If that happens, the determination of the champion title will be done in a single playoff match.

Napoli escaped the pursuit of Inter thanks to two goals from Lazio striker, Pedro, including one from the penalty spot in the 90th minute. Inter thought they would finish the match with a victory after Denzel Dumfries scored with a header to put them ahead, just 10 minutes before the final whistle.

However, Yann Bisseck's handball in the box towards the end gave Champions League-chasing Lazio the chance to equalise.

Inter displayed their poor side by squandering their lead twice. Previously, Bisseck scored the opening goal at the end of the first half before Pedro equalized in the 73rd minute. Striker Marko Arnautovic also failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to score the winning goal in the final minute.

Like Conte, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi also had to miss the last match due to a red card. This occurred because of his strong reaction during the VAR review for Pedro's penalty.

With that draw, Lazio, currently in sixth place, maintains the opportunity to secure the last ticket to the Champions League, although they are now two points behind fourth-placed Juventus, who defeated Udinese 2-0. Meanwhile, AS Roma is also a threat after demolishing AC Milan with a score of 3-1. Roma is in fifth place, one point behind Juventus.

Milan, which played with 10 players since the 21st minute after Santiago Gimenez received a red card from the referee, has been confirmed not to play in Europe next season. The defeat to Roma has caused Milan to drop to ninth place. (AFP)