Scott McTominay’s early goal proved decisive as Napoli won 1-0 at Cagliari in Serie A on Friday, moving the champions up to second in the standings behind Inter Milan.
The Scottish midfielder struck in the second minute, reacting sharply to the conversion after the ball deflected off the post following a corner. Napoli seized control of the match, dictating possession and keeping the hosts behind them.
McTominay threatened again with a header that was almost wide of the post, and his teammate and fellow Scotland international Billy Gilmour had a shot blocked as Napoli tried to extend their lead before half-time.
After the break, Napoli maintained their dominance and created new chances for Kevin De Bruyne and Matteo Politano, whose efforts forced saves from Cagliari goalkeeper Elia Caprile.
«Cagliari sat back and didn’t pressure us, waiting for us to make a mistake so they could launch a counter-attack. They weren’t really a big threat,» Napoli coach Antonio Conte told DAZN.
Napoli is six points behind leader Inter Milan and AC Milan can regain second place on Saturday by beating Torino.
Published on March 21, 2026
