Napoli Champions League Push Gathers Momentum With 4-0 Win Over Cremonese

Napoli strengthened the push for another Champions League campaign with a 4-0 home win over Cremonese, a result that also delayed Inter’s title celebrations and calmed pressure after defeat against Lazio, as Antonio Conte highlighted the importance of taking three points at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on a tense Friday evening.

The victory lifted Napoli into second place in Serie A and, more significantly, extended the gap to fifth-placed Como to 11 points, with Opta’s supercomputer now giving Conte’s side a 99.1% probability of qualifying for UEFA’s Champions League for a second straight season, underlining how this result shapes the rest of the run-in.

Conte’s team started at full speed, with Scott McTominay scoring after just two minutes and 23 seconds, before a Filippo Terracciano own goal and a neat Kevin De Bruyne finish made it 3-0 before half-time, then Alisson Santos added a fourth shortly after the interval, while Emil Audero later denied McTominay from the penalty spot.

Napoli were in control throughout the contest, limiting Cremonese to seven attempts and an expected goals figure of only 0.28, while producing 25 shots themselves with an xG of 3.16, showing how the hosts pressed consistently and created clear chances, unlike the wasteful display that had cost them dearly against Lazio in the previous home match.

Conte underlined how the performance answered critics who questioned Napoli after the Lazio loss and emphasised the value of the result in the Champions League race, especially with four key players still unavailable, noting that the squad handled pressure well and avoided a repeat of consecutive home defeats, which had not occurred at the Maradona since December 2021.

Conte told DAZN via TuttoMercatoWeb: "We're happy, we had fun, and we're second while waiting for the results of the others," Conte told DAZN via TuttoMercatoWeb. "These are three crucial points for the Champions League."

Napoli Champions League push framed by home records and margins

Napoli’s big margin carried added historical weight, as this was their first Serie A win by at least four goals since a 15th September 2024 success away to Cagliari, and their first home league victory by four or more goals since a 5-1 scoreline against Juventus on 13th January 2023, restoring a sense of authority at the Maradona.

The Lazio defeat had ended a 26-match unbeaten league streak at home, with 19 wins and seven draws, and under the same coach they had not lost successive Serie A home fixtures since a three-game slide in December 2021 under Luciano Spalletti, so preventing another setback at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona carried real significance for squad confidence.

Key numbers from Napoli Champions League statement win

Several statistics highlighted Napoli’s control against Cremonese, with the hosts sharper in every main metric, as shown below.

Conte stated that Napoli’s reaction had never been in doubt despite strong criticism after the Lazio game, and referenced the absences of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, David Neres, Romelu Lukaku and Vergara, stressing that the group still produced intensity and focus, while also extending a strong run against promoted clubs that now mirrors achievements from the 2020-21 season.

Conte said: "I had no doubts about the team's response. We didn't hit the target against Lazio. Nothing went right. Today there was great determination and a desire for revenge," Conte said. "After Lazio, there was too much excessive criticism for a team that won the league and the Super Cup and is still in second place. Despite, still missing four players, like Di Lorenzo, Neres, Lukaku and Vergara."

McTominay’s role in Napoli Champions League charge

McTominay was central to the victory, not only scoring the opener but also leading several statistical categories, finishing with 10 shots, three chances created, 66 total passes and 20 passes in the final third, while winning seven duels, second only to Santos, who won eight, underlining the midfielder’s influence in both attacking and defensive phases.

The Scotland international now has two league goals scored inside the first three minutes of matches this season and is the midfielder with the most Serie A goals in the 2025 calendar year, with seven, while also standing as the only central midfielder to reach at least 10 home league goals across the last two campaigns, scoring three in 2025-26 and seven in 2024-25.

Asked about McTominay’s ideal role, Conte responded: "Let's not forget that we had to force McTominay's central midfielder option because only he and Lobotka were left. I think that's his position, because he can play box-to-box, and we worked with him on building with the other midfielder."

As the season enters its decisive weeks, Napoli’s comfortable win over Cremonese, supported by strong underlying numbers and key performances from McTominay and Santos, leaves Conte’s side firmly in control of the Champions League race, with a healthy cushion over Como and renewed confidence after restoring authority at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.