Inter Milan have ended Juventus’ nine years dominance of the Italian league by clinching their first Serie A title in eleven years.
On Saturday, Antonio Conte’s side got close to the trophy with a 2-0 win against Crotone.
However, Atalanta’s 1-1 draw at Sassuolo on Sunday have sealed the victory for Inter as they retain an unassailable 13-point cushion with four matches to spare.
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The three points, courtesy of Christian Eriksen and Achraf Hakimi’s goals, have brought an end to Juventus’ nine-year reign.
This was kick-started by Conte himself in 2012 and continued by Max Allegri and Maurizio Sarri last term.
Inter only witnessed two defeats this season – two 2-1 losses in the Milan derby in October and at Sampdoria in January.
After snatching the top spot from AC Milan on February 14, Conte’s side have held it ever since.
Inter with a 3-0 triumph over their cross-city rivals in February made them the runaway leaders during the business end of the season.
Conte who started Juventus’s record run – winning the first three titles in a streak that stretched from 2012 to 2020 – took over Inter in 2019 and lifted the trophy after finishing second last season.
“I’m astonished,” said Conte.
“We’re breaking up a dynasty. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that we’d make up this much ground on the team that dominated Serie A for nine years in the space of two seasons.”
Hopes to retain the title by the defending champions, Juventus was crushed by a torrid season under Andrea Pirlo, with their spot in next season’s Champions League still hanging in the balance.
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‘Champions of Italy’
The city of Milan erupted into a cacophony of car horns after the final whistle confirmed Inter as champions, with four matches to spare, and fans immediately started gathering in the main square in front of the cathedral to celebrate.
Thousands of Nerazzurri fans congregated in Piazza Duomo, with flags and scarves, chanting and singing as they jumped and clapped with little heed to coronavirus restrictions. Almost all wore masks but many were pulled down below their chins.
“We are, yes, we are. Champions of Italy. We can finally scream it, after dreaming of it, after keeping it hidden in the depths of our hearts, after holding on to it like a precious dream that we did not want to waste,” he said.
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli congratulated his Inter counterpart Steven Zhang on the Chinese-owned club’s success.
“Well done Steven! Happy for you and proud of being your loyal opponent on the pitch and friend off the pitch. We’ll be back,” Agnelli wrote on Twitter.
© ControlTV 2021.
