The Rise of Napoli: Spalletti’s side on course for Scudetto

Colum Motherway

Napoli

The 2022/23 season has seen some fantastic performers so far but probably the best of the lot has been Italian side Napoli.

They are currently on track to win the Serie A for the first time since 1990 when they were powered by the phenomenal Diego Maradona.

This will be only the third Scudetto in the club’s history.

Currently after 23 matches played, Napoli sit 15 points clear of second place Inter Milan at the top of the league with 62 points out of a possible 69.

Their only league defeat of the season so far was a 1-0 loss to Inter at the start of January.

With the league title looking all but sealed for the Naples side, their attention can be turned to the UEFA Champions League, in which they have one foot set in the quarter-finals after a 0-2 win away to German side Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of the round of 16.

With Napoli currently having the season of their dreams, could we see them beating the odds and lifting the Champions League trophy in May?

Two stand out performers who could make it happen are Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The two young forwards are one of the best duos in world football at the moment.

Having both played 19 league games for Napoli this season, their stats are outstanding. Osimhen has 18 goals and 4 assists, while Kvaratskhelia has 10 goals and 11 assists.

24 year-old Osimhen also has two goals in four Champions League appearances, with 22 year-old Kvaratskhelia having six goal involvements in six games.

Kvaratskhelia is enjoying a phenomenal first season at Napoli having only joined the club in July from Georgian side Dinamo Batumi. He has earned the nickname “Kvaradona” from fans for his sensational performances.

Keeping these stars will be a challenge for Napoli in the summer, with Osimhen already heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.

Another emerging player of quality at Napoli this season is 26 year-old centre-back Kim Min-jae.
The South Korean international has been a rock at the back for the Italian side throughout the season having only conceded 15 goals in 22 league appearances so far while keeping 10 clean sheets.
He is another player in just his first season at the club.

Despite their league and European form this season, Napoli are no longer competing in the Coppa Italia after being shockingly knocked out in the round of 16 by bottom of the table Cremonese on penalties.

Cremonese stand as the only team in Europe’s top five leagues yet to win a league game this season.

Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti deserves huge credit for leading this team to where they are now.

We are currently enjoying the best Napoli team in many years.

Colum Motherway

Image Credit: Getty