Ranieri’s Roma conquer San Siro with a goal by Soulé, and Napoli take full advantage by pulling three points clear of Inter.
Napoli now sits alone at the top of the Serie A standings: their 2-0 win over Torino, powered by the ever-reliable McTominay, gives them a +3 lead over Inter, who fell 1-0 at home to Roma. Looking at the schedule, this could be the decisive breakaway: with four matches left in the season, Conte’s Azzurri completely control their own destiny — three wins and one draw would mathematically crown them Champions of Italy.
In Naples, the countdown has begun: Lecce, Genoa, Parma, and Cagliari are the last hurdles for the Partenopei on their way to securing their second Scudetto in three years and the fourth in the club’s history. What paved the way for Napoli’s surge past Inter were the Nerazzurri’s two consecutive defeats, first at Bologna and then at home against Roma: Inter, who just a week ago seemed on course for a historic Treble, now risks ending the season with “zero tituli” (“zero trophies”), especially after their painful exit in the Coppa Italia semifinals at the hands of Milan.
Only an unlikely Champions League victory could now salvage Inter’s season — unless Napoli somehow collapse with two shocking slip-ups in the final four games. Anything is possible, and Neapolitan fans are more than justified in practicing every superstitious ritual to ward off the fear of blowing what now seems almost locked up, but allow me to stress: it’s an improbable scenario.
The truth is, there will be plenty of time to celebrate what would be the most extraordinary achievement of Conte’s managerial career. Yet even now, you have to tip your hat to the incredible turnaround he has orchestrated with a team that, just a few months ago, was completely on its knees, drained after the historic title under Spalletti.
Napoli’s squad is strong but certainly not the strongest in the league — a personal opinion, but one shared by many experts before the season began. Inter, without a doubt, looked much better equipped, boasting two full squads. Juventus and Atalanta also appeared deeper, not to mention Milan, who, based on roster quality, have a Ferrari that has been running like a family sedan.
In terms of squad strength, Napoli is closer to Roma than to Inter, and this leads to another important theme: the crucial role of coaches in modern soccer. Juric’s Roma were floundering in the relegation zone, racking up embarrassing results, while Ranieri’s Roma, after the victory over Inter, are now unbeaten in 18 of their last 20 league matches and have collected more points than anyone else in that span. Similarly, Napoli, who last season looked like a sinking Titanic despite having the Scudetto freshly stitched on their chest (or perhaps because of it…), found their strength again when they stopped making disastrous coaching experiments and brought in a great leader to steer the ship.
In modern soccer, a coach accounts for 50% of a team’s success: teams with winning managers have a much better chance of winning titles. It’s not a coincidence; it’s a cause-and-effect relationship.
