Napoli fans already celebrating in anticipation of title

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Napoli fans celebrate ahead of a Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Salernitana, in Naples, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2023. Napoli could end a wait of more than three decades for the Serie A title. Napoli will know the permutations before its match against Salernitana. If second-placed Lazio fails to win at Inter Milan earlier in the day, then a Napoli win will clinch the scudetto. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Napoli fans are already celebrating in anticipation of sealing the club’s first Italian league title since the days when Diego Maradona played for the club.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Napoli fans celebrate outside the Diego Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2023. After Napoli’s game was moved to Sunday, the team could secure the title in front of their own fans by beating Salernitana — if Lazio fails to win at Inter Milan earlier in the day. Diego Maradona led Napoli to its only previous Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Inside and outside the stadium during Napoli’s match against Salernitana on Sunday, fans waved flags in Italy’s green, white and red colors that featured a “3” on them to signify what would be the team’s third Serie A championship after Maradona led the Partenopei to their first two titles in 1987 and 1990.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Napoli fans celebrate as they wait for the start of the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Salernitana, at Naples’ Diego Armando Maradona stadium, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2021. Napoli fans are already celebrating in anticipation of sealing the club’s first Italian league title since the days when Diego Maradona played for the club. Hours before Napoli’s match against Salernitana later Sunday, fans waved flags in Italy’s green, white and red colors that featured a “3” on them to signify what would be the team’s third Serie A championship after Maradona led the Partenopei to their first two titles in 1987 and 1990. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

To clinch with a record six rounds to spare, Napoli needs only to beat regional rival Salernitana after second-place Lazio lost 3-1 at Inter Milan earlier.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Napoli fans celebrate outside the Diego Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2023. After Napoli’s game was moved to Sunday, the team could secure the title in front of their own fans by beating Salernitana — if Lazio fails to win at Inter Milan earlier in the day. Diego Maradona led Napoli to its only previous Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Napoli entered the match with a 17-point advantage over Lazio.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Napoli players warm up on the field before a Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Salernitana, at Naples’ Diego Armando Maradona stadium, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2021. Napoli fans are already celebrating in anticipation of sealing the club’s first Italian league title since the days when Diego Maradona played for the club. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli Mayor Gaetano Manfredi told The Associated Press in a recent interview that there will be “a big earthquake of joy” when Napoli seals the title.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Napoli fans celebrate outside the Diego Maradona stadium in Naples, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2023. After Napoli’s game was moved to Sunday, the team could secure the title in front of their own fans by beating Salernitana — if Lazio fails to win at Inter Milan earlier in the day. Diego Maradona led Napoli to its only previous Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Napoli’s game against Salernitana at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was moved from Saturday to Sunday following requests from local authorities in order to maintain public order.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports A mock cemetery with crosses bearing the Italian Serie A soccer teams flags and a coffin with the scarfs of the Juventus, Milan and Inter teams and a banner in background reading: ” for all of Italy an atrocious pain, after so many years we have put you all on the crosses” , is seen in Naples, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2023. After Napoli’s game was moved to Sunday, the team could secure the title in front of their own fans by beating Salernitana — if Lazio fails to win at Inter Milan earlier in the day. Diego Maradona led Napoli to its only previous Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports A huge mural of Diego Armando Maradona and Napoli soccer team flags adorn a street in Naples, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2023. After Napoli’s game was moved to Sunday, the team could secure the title in front of their own fans by beating Salernitana — if Lazio fails to win at Inter Milan earlier in the day. Diego Maradona led Napoli to its only previous Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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Children play soccer in the street ahead of the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Salernitana at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, in Naples, Italy, Sunday, April 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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