Napoli’s title celebrations have been put on hold after Boulaye Dia scored a late equaliser to hold the Partenopei to a 1-1 draw. The result ensures Salernitana’s last five away games have ended all square.

After 33 long years, Napoli fans had hoped that this would be the day where they would be crowned champions. Lazio’s defeat to Inter in the lunchtime kick-off ensured the Partenopei had the chance to clinch the Serie A title in the stadium named after the man who starred in the club’s previous two Scudetto wins, the great Diego Armando Maradona. 

Spurred on by an expectant and vociferous crowd, Napoli’s modern-day hero Victor Osimhen headed wide from Hirving’s Lozano cross within the opening two minutes.

The Nigeria international had to wait 20 minutes for the next chance to come his way, but when it did, he could only send his powerful header straight at Guillermo Ochoa. The Mexico international was required again in the latter stages of the first-half, pushing André-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s strike away from danger, ensuring the score remained goalless at the interval.

The visitors continued to frustrate their hosts in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, forcing Luciano Spalletti to turn to his bench, introducing Elif Elmas and Giacomo Raspadori. Within 60 seconds of his arrival onto the hallowed turf, Raspadori curled a corner onto the head of Mathías Olivera, who nodded the ball into the bottom corner, sparking a scene of wild jubilation that had been 33 years in the making.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Dia was in the mood to cut the celebrations short, as he drove inside from the right flank to send an unstoppable strike past Alex Meret. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia attempted to find a late winner with a curling effort that was smartly stopped by Ochoa, ensuring the wait for the Serie A title will go on a little while longer.

While Salernitana end the day seven points clear of the drop, Napoli will have the chance to end their 33-year wait when they face Udinese on Thursday.