Fallen giants Napoli promoted to Serie B

Twice Italian champions Napoli won promotion to the Serie B yesterday, two years after they were demoted due to bankruptcy. Napoli, who won the 'scudetto' with Argentine striker Diego Maradona in 1987 and 1990, beat Perugia 2-0 yesterday. With rivals...

Twice Italian champions Napoli won promotion to the Serie B yesterday, two years after they were demoted due to bankruptcy.

Napoli, who won the 'scudetto' with Argentine striker Diego Maradona in 1987 and 1990, beat Perugia 2-0 yesterday. With rivals Frosinone losing at Chieti, Napoli have a 12-point lead with three games remaining.

The Naples club were declared bankrupt during the close season of 2004 and refused a licence to play in the second tier Serie B.

Under a special regulation, however, the franchise for football in the city was taken up by a newly-created club formed by cinema producer Aurelio De Laurentis.

The new club was forced to start in Serie C1.

Last season Napoli missed out on an immediate return to the second tier after they lost a play-off.

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