Napoli’s rivals melt away to leave an end to their scudetto wait in sight

30-Jan-2023 12:11:10 | The Guardian

Milan slumped at home to Sassuolo, while Monza rocked Juventus. Is there anyone who can stop Napoli?

By the end, it felt like a cup final: two teams playing as if everything needed to be settled right here. One moment Roma’s keeper, Rui Patricio, was making a save at his near post and the next he was sprinting toward the opposite goal, joining the attack for a corner. As teammate Gianluca Mancini’s final attempt was blocked, Napoli players spilled from the dugout punching the air, yelling, embracing.

Why should it matter like this? José Mourinho had told us on Saturday that the Serie A title race was already over, offering his congratulations. “I don’t want to be misinterpreted … [but] Napoli have won it, it’s theirs and they deserve it,” he said. “They are the strongest team.”