Napoli prepare for the party: when could they win the Serie A title?

The city of Naples in Southern Italy is preparing for the party for their third Scudetto, which could well feel like the very first time. Over the past 33 years, since their last league title win, Napoli has suffered bankruptcy as well as relegation to Serie B and Serie C; the idea of going back to winning ways like the two Scudetto with Maradona felt like an impossible dream.

The title is edging closer and closer and with that the sense of hope, as the city paints the walls blue in preparation for celebration. The local authorities have even got involved, requesting that the game against Salernitana, to be played on Saturday 29 April, be moved to Sunday. The mayor of the town wanted to avoid a three-day party: Saturday (after the game), Sunday (if Inter don’t lose against Lazio at San Siro), and Monday, which is a bank holiday. Added to the pot is the Comicon festival, which is set for the same weekend in Naples and is expected to attract around 130,000 people.

Salernitana are having trouble with the late fixture change

Yesterday the postponement of the game was made official: it will be played tomorrow (Sunday) at 9am ET, after Inter vs Lazio. Other games involving Napoli and Udinese (their midweek opponents) have also been moved, but the key to this weekend is the potential celebrations. The decision has had an impact on Napoli’s opponents, who are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table and were unable to find a suitable hotel for an extra night in the fully-booked city.

Despite the fact the league is not yet secured, Napoli are preparing the balloons: they have organised blocking off the centre of the city from vehicles, while the sale of drink in glass bottles and fireworks have been temporarily banned.

Fans across Italy have sent official messages regarding the celebrations

It will be difficult to uphold such a ruling, but the ultras of the Curva A of the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium have asked “not to damage walls, squares, streets and monuments” while in other cities across Italy, Salernitana, Bergamo and Varese, the fan groups have threatened the Napoli fans that live there: “You won’t be celebrating anything here”.

In the Curva B of the Napoli Stadium, the fans sent out a more romantic message, saying that everyone celebrating should “bring a personal flag, and another one for the people who are no longer with us. Many tears will be shed, but up there, someone will be smiling.” What is for certain is that Sunday will be a special day in Naples.