With six games left in the season, runaway league leaders Napoli needed to win to clinch their third league title after Inter Milan defeated Lazio, their closest rivals, 3-1 earlier in the day. When Mathias Olivera gave the hosts the lead shortly after the hour mark, Naples believed a generation of frustration had finally come to an end.
Osimhen, the top scorer in Serie A, was the lone threat for the home team in a tedious first half in which Salernitana played strong defence and generally held Napoli at bay. The greatest opportunity of the first half belonged to Osimhen in the 23rd minute when the Nigerian attacker met Piotr Zielinski's deep free-kick with a strong header that Guillermo Ochoa superbly punched away. Three minutes before halftime, Ochoa then saved Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's long-range attempt as Napoli failed to generate any chances against the Salernitana team.