
Napoli climbed back to the top of Italian football after sealing the Serie A title on Friday, bouncing back from disaster to win the Italian championship for the fourth time.
Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku netted in a 2-0 win over Cagliari at a packed and wild Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as Napoli secured their second league crown in three years on the final day of the season.
Napoli finished the season a point ahead of closest rivals Inter Milan who won 2-0 at Como, the outgoing champions' opponents having to play half the match with 10 men after goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off just before half-time of his last ever match.
Friday's triumph crowned a season which started with few thinking Napoli could challenge Inter after finishing 10th as reigning champions last term.
"It's happened again and it's fantastic... we've had a really great season and it's all thanks to the boys who wanted to put themselves out there, especially those who won the league two years ago," said coach Antonio Conte.
Conte has taken Napoli by the scruff of the neck but did nothing to squash rumours that he will leave in the summer after one season in Naples due to his frustrations at a lack of investment from owner Aurelio De Laurentiis.
"I have a good relationship with the president and his family," said Conte when pressed on his future by DAZN. "I've had the opportunity to get to know him and him me, we're celebrating together and we're two winners. Maybe we're a bit different, but we're two winners."
Inter's win meant nothing as another Scudetto party was kicked off in Naples by the fans' new heroes McTominay and Lukaku, with fans lighting flares and setting off fireworks in the streets in celebration.
Scotland midfielder McTominay, named player of the season, signed with the league campaign already underway in August and immediately made an impact on a team still reeling last season's disaster.
His 12th goal of his first Serie A season, three minutes before half-time, was a fitting way for Napoli to break the deadlock as he has been the symbol of the team's renewal under Conte. AFP
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