Juventus win fifth straight Serie A title

Juventus have clinched their fifth consecutive Scudetto – equalling the Turin club's 'Golden Quinquennium' side of the early 1930s – following second-placed Napoli's 1-0 defeat at Roma on Monday.

Juve won 2-1 at Fiorentina on Sunday and are now 12 points clear of Napoli with three games to go. Securing the title so early is particularly impressive considering Massimiliano Allegri's men were 12th in Serie A, 11 points from the summit, ten matches into the campaign. They have picked up 73 points from their subsequent 25 league fixtures, winning 24 and drawing only with Bologna in February.

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That streak started with an added-time victory in the derby against Torino back in October. "The moment we really turned a corner was scoring in the 95th minute against Torino," said captain Gianluigi Buffon. "That gave us a confidence boost and we began to see even the most unthinkable targets were within our reach."

Talismanic goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon©AFP/Getty Images

Juve were unbeaten when they claimed the first of these five Scudettos, in 2011/12 under Antonio Conte, while they picked up a record 102 points last term, Allegri's first as coach. This, though, is the best of all according to Buffon. "My first and this season's have been the greatest of all my Scudetto victories," the 38-year-old goalkeeper said. "This season has been crazy and unbelievable. This victory showed our strength both in terms of technique and character."

"It has been a memorable season," added Allegri. "Everybody thought we had no chance after our bad start, when many thought the club should have sacked me. We did very well to react after that poor start, winning 24 games out of 25 is almost impossible, but we did it."

Juve conceded nine goals in their first ten outings of the campaign – the same number they have let in since. Paulo Dybala, meanwhile, has been just as influential at the other end, scoring 16 times in the Italian top flight alone. "I joined Juve because I wanted to start winning trophies and I was sure I could do it here," the 22-year-old said.

The Bianconeri will have the chance to lift a second straight double when they face AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final on 21 May.