The last hope for a competitive race among Europe’s top five soccer leagues rests with a hard-luck team from a rough Italian city with a chain-smoking, former banker of a coach and a 28-year itch since Diego Maradona last delivered a title.
With the Serie A campaign two-thirds complete, Napoli enters Monday’s match at Cagliari with a one-point lead over Juventus, the six-time reigning champion.
The other major circuits are all but decided. In England, Manchester City is 13 points up on crosstown rival United. In Spain, Barcelona is unbeaten through 25 matches and comfortably ahead of Atletico Madrid.