The 2010-11 campaign was a season of spectacular resurgence for Napoli as the Partenopei, under Walter Mazzarri's intense guidance, surged to a magnificent 3rd-place finish in Serie A. This landmark achievement secured a coveted spot in the UEFA Champions League, marking the club's highest league finish in over 15 years. Spearheading the charge was the sensational, newly-signed striker Edinson 'El Matador' Cavani, whose prolific 26 league goals, a club record at the time, exploded him onto the world stage and proved decisive in a campaign built on a lethal 3-4-2-1 system featuring Marek Hamšík and Ezequiel Lavezzi. This defining chapter signaled the true return of the Partenopei to the European elite.