Sassuolo had built a reputation as giant killers this season, most notably defying the odds to beat both Atalanta and AC Milan. But runaway leaders Napoli are a different proposition entirely, and proved it in the 12th minute, when Georgian sensation Khvicha Kvaratskhelia once more stole the spotlight. Celebrating his 22nd birthday with a goal against Cremonese just five days ago, he picked up the ball on the halfway line and drove at the Sassuolo defence, riding desperate challenges as they flew in before calmly slotting in the opener for the third successive match.
After continuing to dictate play, Napoli had a two-goal lead just 20 minutes later via another of their in-form aces. This time it was Serie A’s current top gun Victor Osimhen who made his mark, when he chased a hopeful ball into the channel before unleashing a surprise strike from a tight angle. It clearly caught the vastly experienced Andrea Consigli off guard, fizzing past the veteran at his near post to make it seven goalscoring league games in a row for the Nigerian striker, while putting Napoli on a blistering 19 goals in total across the same period.
Sassuolo thought they had found a route back into the game just before the break, when Armand Laurienté smartly converted, but VAR intervened and ruled out the goal for offside, almost certainly spelling the end of any comeback hopes Sassuolo may have had. The second 45 minutes was played at exhibition pace, as Napoli sauntered to a 20th victory of the season, and it will now require a collapse of unthinkable proportions for Napoli to lose the title now.
With tonight’s result in the books, June 4 is already etched in many a diary over in Naples for the biggest party the city has seen, after more than three decades of title hurt for Gli Azzurri.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
