Napoli 2025-26: Life After the Scudetto and the Road Back to the Top
Napoli's Scudetto in 2022-23 was one of the greatest stories in football. A city that had waited 33 years for a league title finally got one, and the celebrations lasted for weeks. But the aftermath was messy — Spalletti left, key players were sold, and Napoli had a disastrous 2023-24 season. Now, in 2025-26, they're back in the title race. Here's how they got here.
The rebuild
After the Scudetto, Napoli lost Spalletti (to the Italian national team), Kim Min-jae (to Bayern Munich), and several other key players. The 2023-24 season was a disaster — they finished 10th and went through three managers. It was a cautionary tale about what happens when you don't plan for success.
The turnaround started with smart recruitment. Napoli hired a manager who understood the club's identity, invested in young talent, and rebuilt the squad around Kvaratskhelia, who stayed despite interest from PSG and Manchester City. The decision to keep Kvara was the most important decision the club made.
This season
Napoli are 2nd in Serie A, just 2 points behind Inter. They're playing the best football in the league — their attack is devastating, their pressing is intense, and the atmosphere at the Maradona Stadium is electric. The fans believe they can win the Scudetto again, and the team is feeding off that energy.
Kvaratskhelia has been the best player in Serie A this season. His 16 goals and 10 assists from the left wing are extraordinary numbers. He's the most exciting player in Italian football, and he's the reason Napoli are in the title race.
Key players
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: The Georgian wizard. His dribbling, his shooting, and his creativity make him almost unplayable on his day. He's the best player in Serie A and one of the best in the world.
Stanislav Lobotka: The Slovakian midfielder is the metronome of Napoli's play. His passing accuracy is the highest in Serie A, and his ability to control the tempo of games is essential to Napoli's system.
Alessandro Buongiorno: The center-back has been a revelation since joining from Torino. His defensive positioning, his aerial ability, and his composure on the ball have made him one of the best defenders in the league.
Can they win the Scudetto?
Yes. Napoli are 2 points behind Inter with 10 games to play. Their remaining fixtures are favorable — they don't play any of the top 3 away from home. If they win their home games and pick up points on the road, they can overtake Inter.
The Maradona Stadium will be the 12th man. Napoli's home form has been exceptional — they've lost just once at home all season. The atmosphere is intimidating for visiting teams, and the fans create an energy that lifts the players.
Napoli winning back-to-back Scudetti (with a gap year in between) would be a remarkable achievement. It would confirm that the 2023 title wasn't a one-off — it was the start of something special.