The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona erupted with joy as Giovanni Di Lorenzo became the first Napoli player since Diego Maradona to lift the Serie A trophy, marking the end of a 33-year wait for the club.
Despite securing the Serie A title with five rounds remaining, Napoli had to wait until the final day of the season to officially receive the trophy in front of their supporters at their home stadium. Napoli ended their remarkable campaign with a 2-0 win over Sampdoria. However, the result held little significance.
💙 #Napul3 #ForzaNapoliSempre #TuttoPerLei pic.twitter.com/FyoTvz157F
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) June 4, 2023
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Victor Osimhen propelled Napoli to victory against Sampdoria by converting a penalty. This marked his 26th league goal of the season. He also became the first African player to be crowned as the top scorer in Serie A.
Giovanni Simeone extended Napoli’s lead with a sensational strike. He celebrated by displaying a jersey bearing the number 10, reminiscent of Maradona’s iconic shirt.
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Before kick-off, Luciano Spalletti, who announced his departure from the team earlier in the week, was honoured with the Serie A Coach of the Year award. Meanwhile, winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia received the Player of the Season award.
It was also an emotional occasion for veteran Sampdoria forward Fabio Quagliarella, who bid farewell to his Serie A career at his hometown club. He was substituted to a standing ovation in the closing stages of the game. The 40-year-old player embraced players from both teams while making his exit.
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End of an era for Zlatan Ibrahimovic
GODBYE 🫡#MilanVerona pic.twitter.com/ptQhacQTto
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) June 5, 2023
AC Milan experienced a touching moment at San Siro as they bid farewell to their seasoned forward, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who then surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from professional football.
Following the match, a special ceremony was held in his honor. Milan players and staff formed a guard of honour as Ibra stepped onto the field.
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In the game, Milan emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Hellas Verona. Meanwhile, Spezia suffered a 2-1 defeat against Roma. The latter were playing their first match since their loss in the Europa League final against Sevilla. This outcome left Verona and Spezia tied on 31 points. Playoffs will now be held, as per new regulations, to determine which team will remain in Serie A.
The playoff is scheduled to take place next Sunday at a neutral venue.
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Atalanta secure place in Europa League
Teun Koopmeiners scored three goals, securing a hat trick, as Atalanta defeated Monza 5-2 and secured their place in the upcoming Europa League.
By finishing fifth in the league, Atalanta earned their qualification for the Europa League, narrowly edging out Roma by a single point.
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Juventus managed a 1-0 victory against Udinese, securing a seventh-place finish. However, their participation in the Europa Conference League next season depends on UEFA’s decision regarding potential bans from European competitions due to ongoing legal issues.
In another match, Bologna beat Lecce 3-2.
