Napoli secured a comfortable 3-0 victory against relegation-threatened Empoli on April 14th, 2025, with Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku leading the charge. The win keeps Napoli in contention for the Serie A title, though they remain three points behind leaders Inter Milan with six matches left to play. The pressure was on after Inter’s 3-1 win over Cagliari the previous Saturday, but Napoli responded with a dominant performance at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The dynamic duo of McTominay and Lukaku proved unstoppable against Empoli’s struggling defense. Napoli created numerous scoring opportunities, showcasing their attacking prowess and leaving Empoli’s defense scrambling. McTominay opened the scoring in the 18th minute with a long-range shot that beat Empoli’s goalkeeper, Devis Vásquez. Lukaku doubled the lead in the 56th minute with a composed finish inside the box, capitalizing on a perfectly weighted through ball.
McTominay then completed his brace in the 61st minute, heading home a cross from Lukaku. The pair continued to combine effectively, creating further chances, though a hat-trick for McTominay was narrowly missed when his shot struck the post. Unfortunately, Napoli’s comfortable evening suffered a slight setback when defender Juan Jesus appeared to suffer a hamstring injury, forcing him to leave the game.
Despite the injury, Napoli continued to dominate possession and create chances, with Lukaku narrowly missing adding another goal. In the dying minutes, McTominay had a late opportunity for a third goal but was thwarted by Vásquez’s impressive save and an offside flag. Post-match, McTominay emphasized Napoli’s focus on their own performance, stating that they need to enjoy the game, maintain their playing style, and see what Inter Milan does. Napoli’s remaining fixtures appear favorable, with all their opponents currently sitting 10th or lower in the table. Their next match is an away game against bottom-placed Monza on Saturday.
Overall, the match demonstrated Napoli’s strength and determination in their pursuit of the Serie A title. The performance of McTominay and Lukaku highlighted the team’s attacking potential and their ability to overcome challenges. While the title race remains tight, Napoli’s victory provides a significant boost of confidence as they head into the final stretch of the season.
