Champions Juventus broke AC Milan’s record of 42 matches unbeaten as they finished the Serie A season undefeated with a 3-1 win over Atalanta BC on Sunday.
It was also the perfect send-off after 19 years with the Old Lady for club captain Alessandro Del Piero, who took the armband for the final time in a Serie A game in Juve’s colors and netted his team’s second goal.
Youngster Luca Marrone scored the opener and Andrea Barzagli netted a last-minute penalty as Juve finished the season with 84 points, four clear of last year’s champions Milan.
Photo: AFP
The only blips were a late own-goal by Stephan Lichsteiner and an injury to centerback Giorgio Chiellini that could put his Euro 2012 participation at risk.
The victory meant Juve took their unbeaten run in all competitions to 43 games, including the final match of last season, a record for an Italian team.
They also produced the first unbeaten Serie A campaign since AC Milan in 1992 and the first since Italy moved from an 18 to a 20-team league.
“The aim was to remain unbeaten and to celebrate with our own fans,” coach Antonio Conte said. “We managed that and that had never happened in a 20-team league. This is a legendary season because in the future no one will ever be able to beat what we’ve done, only equal it. No one ever gave us anything and that’s reason for great pride. Del Piero played like a champion once again, but I told him the season isn’t over because he must been decisive again on Sunday in the Italian Cup final against Napoli.”
If they avoid defeat in next weekend’s final, Juve will become the first team to go an entire season unbeaten in the league and cup, although they were helped by not playing in Europe.
Their clash with Atalanta was little more than a glorified friendly.
The game descended into near farce in the second period when Conte decided to substitute Del Piero so he could receive a rapturous ovation from the fans.
He got that, but the sight of a league match being held up for at least a couple of minutes to affect a substitution while all his teammates joined him in the center-circle to salute him seemed like a scene from a testimonial match.
With the game ongoing, he then embarked on a lap of honor to salute the fans.
Milan finished their season with a the perfect party scenario as 38-year-old Filippo Inzaghi scored the winner on his 300th and final appearance for the club before retiring in a 2-1 win over Novara Calcio.
“I’m spent, now it’s hard to give up everything, my legs are there, I don’t have any pain,” the man of the moment said. “After the cruciate knee ligament operation, I got well again. Playing a long way from Milan is so hard, but I will return to this club.”
With popular stalwarts Inzaghi, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Nesta all making their final bow in a Milan shirt, the match took time to come to life.
Gattuso captained the side, but looked a shadow of his former self, while the biggest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Inzaghi’s entry from the bench.
It was Inzaghi’s 156th goal in Serie A and just to top things off, it was fellow veteran Clarence Seedorf who played the pass.
Udinese secured third place and the final Champions League qualification position with a 2-0 win at Catania.
Emblematic captain Antonio Di Natale gave them a 19th-minute lead on a counterattack and Diego Fabbrini sealed the victory in the 58th minute.
That result rendered SS Lazio’s 3-1 win over Inter meaningless, although it was enough for them to finish fourth.
Diego Milito gave the visitors the lead from the penalty spot, but goals from Libor Kozak, Andrea Candreva and Stefano Mauri gave the Romans victory.
Napoli finished fifth, just above Inter, after their 2-1 win over AC Siena.
Fiorentina drew 0-0 with Cagliari, Cesena lost 3-2 at home to AS Roma and Parma defeated Bologna 1-0.
Lecce joined Cesena and Novara in Serie B after their 1-0 defeat at Chievo Verona. They could not have survived anyway as Genoa beat Palermo 2-0.
Additional reporting by staff writer
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and