AC Milan claimed an 18th Serie A title following a 0-0 draw at AS Roma on Saturday that gave them an unassailable lead at the top of the table with two games to go.
Milan came into the game knowing they needed only a draw to be sure of winning the scudetto crown and they never looked in danger of failing to do so.
The draw pushed their lead over second-placed Inter, who still have three to play, to nine points, but with a better head-to-head record — the Rosssoneri now cannot be overtaken.
Photo: Reuters
The title is all the sweeter for Milan as they put an end to their arch rivals Inter’s run of five straight league crowns.
Milan coach Massmiliano Allegri was understandably delighted at having landed the title in his first season at the club and even claimed that club president and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had promised him new signings in the summer.
This was far from a vintage performance, but Milan produced the kind of calm and controlled display necessary to get just what they needed.
Photo: Reuters
They created little themselves, but they did come the closest to scoring and gave Roma very little to work with.
The true damage had already been done in the past two months when 3-0 victories at home to their nearest two rivals — Inter and Napoli — consistently kept the competition at bay.
For Roma the point did little to help their chances of securing a top four finish and Champions League soccer next season.
They are level with SS Lazio and a point ahead of — with those two due to play each other.
Milan produced a neat passing move on 10 minutes with Clarence Seedorf setting up Kevin-Prince Boateng, who fired high and wide.
Up the other end, Rodrigo Taddei flashed a speculative effort wide of the far post.
The chance of the half came on 14 minutes.
Marco Cassetti skipped past Gianluca Zambrotta, dinked the ball to the back post where Ignazio Abate mistimed his jump and Mirko Vucinic opted to take it down on his chest only for Christian Abbiati to spread himself well to smother his volley.
Roma had possibly the better of the chances as early substitute Aleandro Rosi crossed for Vucinic, who hadn’t committed himself, allowing Alessandro Nesta to whisk the ball clear.
Rosi then hit a low shot that Abbiati got down to at his near post.
In the other game, Palermo rallied to a 2-1 victory over Bari.
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