Napoli Leads Serie A Title Race as Banned Conte Misses Final Match

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has revealed the intense emotional and physical toll of the current Serie A title race, describing it as the toughest season of his career. Despite a goalless draw against Parma, where Napoli hit the woodwork three times and had a late penalty overturned after a VAR review, Napoli remain one point ahead of Inter Milan heading into the final match. Conte will miss the decisive home game against Cagliari due to a red card received in the Parma match following a confrontation with Parma coach Cristian Chivu, but he expressed confidence in his staff, players, and the support of Napoli's fans at the Stadio Maradona. Both Conte and Inter coach Simone Inzaghi were sent off in the penultimate round, meaning neither will be on the touchline for their teams' title-deciding matches. Napoli can secure their second Serie A title in three years if they match Inter's result in the final round, with statistical models giving them an 83.3% chance of winning the Scudetto. Conte acknowledged the high expectations that come with Napoli's passionate fanbase but emphasized the team's resilience and determination to achieve a historic victory despite numerous challenges throughout the season.