Italy round-up: Juve pip Inter to title

Juventus FC won their 26th Serie A title on a dramatic final day of the season on Sunday, winning 2-0 at Udinese Calcio as favourites Internazionale FC crashed to a 4-2 defeat at S.S. Lazio.

Roma second
Juventus - pipped to the title on the final day in the previous two seasons - finished top on 71 points, with AS Roma second on 70 points after winning 1-0 at Torino Calcio through an Antonio Cassano goal, and Inter, who went into the final day a point clear at the top, third on 69.

Early goals
French striker David Trezeguet put Juventus ahead in just the second minute with a header from an Antonio Conte cross. Nine minutes later Alessandro Del Piero doubled Juve's lead, providing a cool finish to a swift counter-attack. It was the fourth title win for Juventus coach Marcello Lippi who said: "They all felt great but this one is the best."

Inter take the lead
At the Olympic stadium in Rome, long-time leaders Inter missed out on their first title in 13 years despite taking a 12th-minute lead when Christian Vieri tapped in after Lazio goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi dropped a corner at his feet. Lazio drew level in the 20th minute through Karel Poborský but within four minutes Inter had restored their lead when Luigi Di Biagio headed in an Alvaro Recoba corner.

'Lost their heads'
But a defensive error from Vratislav Gresko gifted Poborský Lazio's second on the stroke of half-time and then ten minutes after the restart former Inter midfielder Diego Simeone headed Lazio ahead from a Stefano Fiore cross. Simone Inzaghi made it four with a header in the 74th minute. Inter coach Héctor Cúper said afterwards: "The team lost their heads but football is like that."

Milan take fourth place
AC Milan beat US Lecce 3-0 at home to finish fourth and enter the UEFA Champions League qualifying round along with Inter, while AC Chievo Verona came from behind to beat Atalanta BC 2-1 and ensure they join Lazio and Parma AC in the UEFA Cup next season.

Verona relegated
Hellas-Verona FC lost 3-0 to Piacenza FC to become the fourth relegated team, along with Lecce, AC Fiorentina and AC Venezia. Dario Hubner's two goals for Piacenza left him with 24 for the season - level at the top of the scoring charts with Juve's Trezeguet.

Brescia survive
Brescia Calcio, who had started the day in the fourth relegation spot, secured their Serie A survival with a 3-0 victory over Bologna FC, with Roberto Baggio among the scorers. In the day's other matches, Parma came from behind to defeat Venezia 2-1 while AC Perugia beat Fiorentina 2-0.