20 March 2020
This current title race has seen three teams fighting for the title (Juventus, Lazio and Inter), but the last time we saw such a tight and tough battle at the top of the stands was back in 2001-02. It was a sprint to the finish, which on the last day, saw Inter appear in the final straight, while Juve were one point away and Roma immediately behind by two. How it ended, is known to all and no date is probably more evocative for the Bianconeri fans: just say May 5 and it immediately arouses deep emotions.
That Sunday saw Inter not only lose against Lazio at the Olimpico but they were overtaken by Juve, who claimed a 2- 0 win over Udinese. Even the Scudetto back in 2013 and 2014 were conquered on the same day: 5 May. However, the triumph from 2002 remains unreachable, because, the most unexpected situations and happenings are the ones that induce the most chills and remain in the memory for the longest.
In achieving the legendary number 26 title, the final overtaking against long-time rivals Inter isn't the only thing that makes the victory unforgettable. What makes Lippi's Juve special is the way in which they worked their way up to the top with five match days remaining. With only five games to go, the Bianconeri were trailing the Nerazzurri by six points and Roma by three. Here's what happened, step by step, with the help of the story of Hurrà Juventus, who also recorded the report cards of each outing.
Matchday 30: PERUGIA-JUVENTUS 0-4
After just eight minutes on the clock, David Trezeguet put the Bianconeri ahead. But the goals don't stop there: Del Piero scored his own brace, while Zenoni bagged a goal just as Inter lost at home against Atalanta.
Matchday 31: JUVENTUS-MILAN 1-0
With 12 minutes to go until the final whistle, the result at Delle Alpi was still locked in at 0-0. Juve pressed and pressed, but a goal was hard to come by. Nonetheless, there are no great films without plot twists. And it eventually arrived in the form of an own goal by Charmot. It is a goal that guaranteed the Bianconeri important points. The gap between the Old Lady and the summit remains unchanged: -3.
Matchday 32: PIACENZA-JUVENTUS 0-1
If the previous game against Milan was a tough test for the Juventus fans, this one was even more so. Everything happened in the final moments of the match: from a possible farewell to the Scudetti dream to a concrete opening of a hope. Nedved was the one who took care of Piacenza, with a strike from the edge of the area that rattled the back of the net with only 120 seconds remaining on the block. At the same time, the news of Chievo's draw against Inter arrives from Verona. The Old Lady moves to second place, one point less divides Juve from the Nerazzurri and one more from the reigning Italian champions, Roma.
Matchday 33: JUVENTUS-BRESCIA 5-0
Ninety minutes where nothing changes in the standings, thus preparing the starting grid for the final Sunday. But inside the news, there is already history. Because Juve overwhelmed Brescia with an unstoppable 5-0 win, a hat-trick by David Trezeguet and a brace by Alessandro Del Piero sealed the impressive victory. This triumph was the precondition for the victory against Udinese, while Inter offered a signal of that collapse that occured in Rome on the final match day. Their first half ended 1-1 against Piacenza, but they scraped a win in the second half.
