CNN
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“Let’s rewrite historical past … the dream continues!” mentioned Napoli’s Twitter web page.
And no surprise – 18 factors clear on the high of the Serie A desk, the Partenopei is cruising to its first home league title for the reason that heady days of Diego Maradona within the late Eighties.
However Luciano Spalletti’s group doesn’t appear set on simply dominating Italian soccer; Napoli can also be turning up the warmth on Europe’s elite.
On Wednesday, Napoli comfortably beat Eintracht Frankfurt – final yr’s Europa League winners – 3-0 within the Champions League, because of objectives from two of its stalwarts, a brace from Victor Osimhen and a penalty from Piotr Zieliński.
In doing so, it superior to the quarterfinals with a 5-0 victory on combination over two legs. The seven different groups in Friday’s draw for the final eight are in all probability hoping not be paired towards Napoli.
No person anticipated this season. Not even essentially the most hardened of Napoli followers might have predicted that after 26 video games of the season, the group can be easing to its first title in over 30 years, banishing years of heartache and falling quick.
Nevertheless, because of the beforehand unheralded Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a central European midfielder axis – Zieliński and Stanislav Lobotka – and the prolific Nigerian ahead Osimhen, Napoli has turn out to be one among Europe’s high groups taking part in an thrilling model of attacking soccer.
The 64-year-old Spalletti isn’t identified for being a serial winner, however his Napoli group’s attacking verve has persistently overwhelmed opposition with a majesty match for champions in ready.
It has solely failed to attain in three video games this season within the league, scoring two or extra objectives on 20 events.
Osimhen is Serie A’s high scorer with 19 objectives whereas Kvaratskhelia – who’s taking part in in his first season for Napoli – has scored 11 and offered 9 assists within the league. The Georgian’s thrilling performances have earned him comparisons to Maradona and the nickname “Kvaradona.”
Mixed with a stingy protection – lead by summer-signing Kim Min-jae – which has saved a league-leading 13 clear sheets, Napoli’s rivals have been taking part in catch up all season.
Napoli’s Champions League campaing started with an emphatic 4-1 win over final yr’s runners up Liverpool within the opening group recreation, scoring 4 in 47 blistering minutes, with Osimhen additionally missed a penalty.
Spalletti’s group went from energy to energy within the Champions League, recording extra spectacular wins towards Rangers and Ajax each dwelling and away.
Excluding the ultimate group recreation towards Liverpool, which Napoli misplaced 2-0 having already assured its qualification to the final 16 spherical, the Italian group’s first 5 matches within the part resulted in 5 wins, because the Partenopei scored 20 objectives and conceded 4.
“We need to benefit from the second and look forward. It’s a terrific win,” Osimhen mentioned after beating Frankfurt. “We’re rewriting the historical past of this membership. We maintain dreaming, we’ve no limits!”