Champions Juventus finish season unbeaten
Sunday, May 13, 2012
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Juventus ensured they finished their title-winning campaign unbeaten with a routine 3-1 win against Atalanta BC, while Udinese Calcio secured a UEFA Champions League spot.
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Having secured the Scudetto last weekend for the first time since 2002/03, Juventus ensured they finished their 38-game season unbeaten with a 3-1 victory against Atalanta BC.
It was a day of celebration for the newly anointed champions, and Luca Marrone's tenth-minute opener set the tone for a momentous day. Fittingly, Alessandro Del Piero doubled the hosts' lead 18 minutes later to mark his final appearance at the Juventus Arena, having made over 500 league appearances for the Bianconeri. Atalanta halved the deficit through Stephan Lichtsteiner's 83rd-minute own goal, but it proved in vain as Andrea Barzagli's late penalty made sure of the result for Juve.
Antonio Conte's side have the chance to seal a domestic double when they face SSC Napoli in the Coppa Italia final on 20 May. Meanwhile, runners-up AC Milan concluded their season with a 2-1 win against already-relegated Novara Calcio. Despite falling behind after 20 minutes, Mathieu Flamini restored parity, before Filippo Inzaghi – another departing legend – completed the comeback eight minutes from time.
Udinese Calcio will play UEFA Champions League football next season after securing third spot thanks to a 2-0 success against Calcio Catania, while S.S. Lazio finished a place back following their 3-1 defeat of FC Internazionale Milano. SSC Napoli had to settle for fifth, meanwhile, despite beating AC Siena 2-1.
AS Roma ended an unpredictable season on a high by seeing off AC Cesena 3-2, while Parma FC edged Bologna FC 1-0. US Lecce were condemned to the drop after a 1-0 defeat at AC Chievo Verona, and Genoa CFC survived by triumphing 2-0 against US Città di Palermo. Lastly, the game between ACF Fiorentina and Cagliari Calcio ended goalless.