It came to an end, the first days of May, the Race for the Scudetto in Italy: Napoli won the championship, Luciano Spalletti and his boys enter history for good. There was never a chance for any real opposition. This season, Serie A always had the one mistress: Napoli. A deserved trophy like few others in the past...
MATCH OF THE WEEK - SALERNITANA vs FIORENTINA 3-3
Unexpectedly the most entertaining match of the midweek Serie A round was the one between Salernitana and Fiorentina, with Vincenzo Italiano's team evidently exhausted from so many close matches (Roma and Milan also drew against Monza and Cremonese, so it can't be a coincidence).
The mvp was undoubtedly Boulaye Dia, increasingly the most important man for Paulo Sousa's team: he even scored three goals! For the Viola, Nico Gonzalez, Jonathan Ikoné and Cristiano Biraghi scored, but the match in its entirety was entertaining for all fans, with many chances and with the defences perhaps a bit too light, although it is understandable given the moment of the season.
The first two goals scored by Dia were similar, with the Salernitana striker free on the left flank, showing all his qualities: speed, dribbling and shooting. Fiorentina managed not to lose and thus take at least a point, but the mind of Italiano and his team can only be on the Cups, with the double dream of the Coppa Italia final, and the other the Europa League semifinal. The Tuscan team's season can become truly legendary, and it is normal for their matches to be full of goals, at least in the league. Those who saw this game enjoyed it, that's for sure.
TEAM OF THE WEEK - INTER MILAN
There is no Italian team in better shape than the Nerazzurri. In the most important moment of the season, Simone Inzaghi has managed to find the best version of his team: after beating Lazio, Lautaro Martinez and his teammates literally crashed Hellas Verona, winning Wednesday night's match with the bombastic result of 0-6.
It was a match that is unlikely to be forgotten by Inter fans, but especially by those of Verona, a fanbase that is known to be proud and proud. The score of the match was opened by Adolfo Gaich's own goal, after which a frightening Inter solo began: Hakan Calhanoglu and Edin Dzeko brought the score to 0-3 before the end of the first half, in the second half the Bosnian scored again and twice Lautaro, who confirmed himself in resounding form and delivered three potentially decisive points in the race for a place in the next Champions League.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK - OKEREKE, VLAHOVIC
Three strikers, one of whom finally returned to make a difference. So many strikers scored in Wednesday and Thursday's matches, so many teams saw their bombers find the joy of scoring, from Boulaye Dia to Lautaro Martinez and other league strikers. But David Okereke and Dusan Vlahovic deserve special comment.
The former because he almost earned a resounding victory over AC Milan, nullified only by a goal in the 93rd minute by Junior Messias (his ninth this season, not bad at all). The latter because he finally returned to scoring, moreover with a splendid shot, like a great champion: a cross coming from the left and a left-footed volley impossible for Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, often decisive for his team.
The exultation was an explosion of joy, just showing how much the Serbian striker needed this goal, to feel like the bomber of Juventus again, to feel like a bomber again. The end of the season is now just a few games away, but there is still a Europa League semifinal to be played and this goal could be a sign for Max Allegri, a stone from which to start again for the final rush that despite the difficulties and problems faced during the year could still end with a trophy raised to the sky.
MOMENT OF THE WEEK - NAPOLI WIN SERIE A
It has finally arrived. The most long-awaited moment for entire generations of Napoli fans: for those who last celebrated when Diego Armando Maradona, one of the greatest players in the history of world soccer and a symbol of Napoli, was on the pitch, for those who last time had not yet been born and now can finally experience unprecedented joy.
Arriving just four days after a draw against Salernitana, Luciano Spalletti and his magnificent boys achieved the much-needed Scudetto victory, thanks to the point earned in the Udine match against Udinese.
Andrea Sottil's team had taken the lead after just a few minutes through Sandi Lovric, then Napoli put every energy into the pursuit of happiness and in the 53rd minute Victor Osimhen scored his 22nd league goal, setting the record for the most goals by an African striker in a league year, surpassing Samuel Eto'o's 21 goals with Inter Milan.
Neapolitan fans' celebrations went on all night, including fireworks, chants and parades around the city. And the feeling is that it is only the beginning of the celebration. Spalletti has crowned the dream of an entire city, and for that he will never be forgotten.
