Well, there it is. After 36 games, 23 wins, 4 losses and 9 draws, AC Milan have been crowned Serie A champions with two games to spare. It has been a long, vastly successful domestic run this season with the Rossineri, who have been top since before Christmas and have been the best side all year in the peninsula, even the likes of Massimo Morratti and Inter captain and defensive stalwart Javier Zanetti conceding that their city rivals deserved their 18th title. Sam Lewis looks back at how Milan sealed the title as well as all the other action from Serie A this weekend.
Il Diavolo sealed their title after a 0-0 draw with Champions League hopefuls Roma, where in truth, the capital club looked the better side, but Milan held on to spark off celebrations throughout Milano – the Rossineri’s first title in seven years, and first trophy in four. The new champions can now focus on the Coppa Italia to keep the hopes of a domestic double alive.
Across Lombardy to Inter, the Nerrazzuri beat Fiorentina 3-1 thanks to goals from Giampaolo Pazzini, Esteban Cambiasso and the newly returned Coutinho, helping the Beneamata see off La Viola, and go a long way to securing second place, after Milan took top spot the night before.
Udinese and Lazio played out the unofficial Champions League play off, Udinese coming off victorious in a 2-1 win. A brace from the evergreen “Toto” Di Natale gave the Tripoli side a 2-0 lead before half time before a 76th minute strike from Libor Kozak ensured a nerve wracking final 15 minutes for the home side. In hindsight, Lazio should have had a point, La Aquile winning a penalty in the second half, but Mauro Zarate failed to convert the spot kick.
Napoli also received a blow in their bid for the top two, losing 2-1 to Lecce, an 88th minute goal from Javier Chevanton giving the home side victory in a game where both sides ended with ten men, Edinson Cavani and Daniele Corvia both seeing red. For Lecce, it was a crucial three points in their bid for survival.
The Genoa derby ended 2-1 to the Grifone, a 96th minute strike from Mauro Boselli maybe putting the final nail in the coffin for their city rivals Sampdoria, after Nicola Pozzi cancelled out Antonio Floro Flores’s opener on 66 minutes.
Catania sent down Brescia in Sicily after the Elefantini emerged 2-1 vicots to guarantee the Rondelle’s demotion to Serie B, goals from Matias Silvestre and Gonzalo Bergessio guaranteeing the triumph for Diego Simeone’s side.
Elsewhere in Serie A, Palermo edged out Bari 2-1 thanks to goals from Fabrizio Miccoli and Cesare Bovo. The Galletti had taken the lead thanks to Simone Bentevoglio, and despite only playing for pride have been very unlucky not to pick up any points in the last two rounds. Finally, Parma and Bologna played out a 0-0 draw.
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