It’s match day, three hours before kick-off, but the crowd is already gathering in a shrine unlike the humble little alcoves carved into the walls across this deeply religious city.
Around the plastic chairs arranged in front of the television screen, amidst the whirring of mopeds bravely following the crowd, stands a giant mural of Naples’ favorite (adopted) son.
It is, quite literally, the Via Maradona. This is the legacy that winning a Scudetto, or two, can leave in this city. And that’s exactly what’s about to happen again for the first time in 33 years.
A 2-0 win over Atalanta on Saturday took Napoli 18 points clear at the top of Serie A. This is not a motley crew, boosted by the presence of an exceptional talent — as in 1987, and to a lesser extent in 1990 — but a well-oiled machine that crushed everything that came home and on the continent during this period.
A team with a manager, in Luciano Spalletti, who seems destined to be a lifelong bridesmaid and never a bride. A mass exodus of star players in the summer. This championship charge makes absolutely no sense.
Napoli are on the verge of winning their first Scudetto since 1990 after another victory on Saturday
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored again as he continued his fine season against Atalanta
Diego Maradona likes to watch Napoli’s attractive style of play this season
But ever since sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli worked his magic in the transfer window last year, that charge has been relentless. Kim Min-jae was poached from Fenerbahce to replace Kalidou Koulibaly and became a rock at the heart of the defense.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 22, was snapped up from Georgian side Dinamo Batumi to replace some of the loss of creativity with the exits of club stalwarts Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens. He’s done that and more — his balletic dribbling and beguiling technique earned him the nickname, Kvaradona, which is the highest possible compliment in these parts.
When he’s not scoring himself, he’s setting up Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker who leads the Golden Boot’s career with 19 goals in 22 games. ‘This team gives the fans joy,’ said Joseph Fischetti, host of the Forza Napoli podcast. ‘Not only in terms of results, but also the style of play. It’s as if the likes of Koulibaly, Mertens and Insigne have taken the weight of expectations off them. Their substitutes play with good freedom.
Maradona loved to watch this team play. They play an attractive brand of football. He would have appreciated the quality in this Napoli side, led by Kvaratskhelia.’
The Scudetto wins added weight to it. It’s a working-class city in a region long looked down upon by their wealthier ‘friends’ to the north. Not only was it Napoli’s first league win since 1990, but the first for any team south of Rome. It was, Fischetti explained, ‘more than a sporting success, a breakthrough for the south in the north and a place that eats, sleeps and breathes football’.
Against Atalanta, Spalletti’s side started cautiously even as Kim’s dominance in the air and Kvaratskhelia’s brilliance on the ball continued to shine. But after emerging from the bowels of the amphitheater that is the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for the second half, Kvaradona decided to give his baying public what they craved.
Kalidou Koulibaly was one of a number of star players who left Napoli last summer
Napoli seem destined to be a perpetual bridesmaid and not a bride under Luciano Spalletti
Supporters launched into a Maradona chant after the full-time whistle against Atalanta
He received the ball on the left, took a few touches to set himself up, jinked in, then out, then back in again, sent three defenders into their grasp and unleashed an unstoppable shot.
Napoli’s second was more agricultural, a looping Amir Rrahmani header from a corner that Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso had to save. But no matter, the home supporters are already grilling the ‘campionista’ of Serie A in anticipation.
About 24 hours earlier, fans had gathered at a bar in the city’s trendy Spanish quarter to watch Inter Milan lose 2-1 to Spezia — a result that gave Napoli the chance to extend their leading to the top. The crowd erupted when Spezia’s goals went in, and when the final whistle blew, they launched into a song.
‘Oh mom, mom, mom.
Oh mom, mom, mom.
Do you know why my heart beats so fast? I saw Maradona.
I saw Maradona. And I fell in love.’
Thirty years from now, they’ll still be gathering in bars, still singing about Napoli, about the boys in blue. But maybe there will be some changes in the lyrics.
News/Image Sources: Daily Mail
