Napoli have been crowned Italian champions after defeating Cagliari 2-0 in their final match of the season, edging out defending champions Inter Milan by a single point in a thrilling Serie A title race.

The Naples club entered Friday's decisive fixtures with a slim one-point advantage over Inter Milan, knowing they needed to match or better Inter's result to secure the championship without requiring a playoff.

Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay delivered a spectacular bicycle kick three minutes before halftime, converting Matteo Politano's cross to send the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium into raptures. Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku doubled Napoli's lead six minutes after the restart, shrugging off a defender before calmly slotting past Cagliari goalkeeper Alen Sherri.

Despite Inter Milan securing a 2-0 victory against Como through goals from Stefan de Vrij and Joaquin Correa, it wasn't enough to overtake Napoli, who finished the season with 87 points to Inter's 86.

The triumph marks a historic achievement for Napoli manager Antonio Conte, who becomes the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different clubs, having previously claimed the title with Juventus and Inter Milan.

"It happened again, and it's something wonderful," said Conte, who watched the match from the stands due to suspension. "When we got to the stadium, it was honestly difficult to get in, as I don't know how many people were there. I had a slight thought, if we let these people down, it'd be something we carried with us for a long time."

The manager was quick to praise his squad: "All the credit goes to the boys. Winning in Naples is difficult, these boys are doing it for the second time in two years. They are serious boys, you don't leave in a team that always plays to win."

McTominay and Lukaku were reportedly Conte's priority signings to help Napoli reclaim the title they surrendered to Inter last season. Their contributions proved decisive in the championship race.

As Napoli celebrated their triumph with fireworks lighting up the Naples sky, Inter Milan must now turn their attention to next Saturday's Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, where they will hope to secure European glory to compensate for their domestic disappointment.