The title is heading back to Juventus. Inter Milan’s 4-2 win in the Milan derby, their second of the season, all but secured the title for the grand Old Lady who claimed all three points in Trieste against Cagliari with a two-nil victory. Juve have now 28 undisputed Italian league titles and 30 if you count the two that were revoked from them. Genoa imploded away at Udinese leaving them at risk of relegation on the final day. With their win, the Zebrette are in poll position to claim the final Champions League spot, though Lazio and Napoli could steal it if they fail to avoid defeat on the weekend.

Saturday 5th May

Fiorentina pulled themselves together after a troublesome week that saw their Delio Rossi fired. Their win away to Lecce earned them a crucial three points that has ensured their top flight survival. Alessio Cerci got the only goal of the game as he broke the offside trap to slide the ball home and celebrate in front of the traveling Viola fans.

Roma blew any remaining hopes they had of European football next term after only managing a draw at home to Catania. Luis Enrique’s side went ahead when they were rewarded a penalty after Fabio Borini was brought down in the area by Juan Pablo Carrizo. Francesco Totti failed to convert the spot kick as Carrizo guessed the right way and he did no better with the rebound as he fired it over the bar. But, il capitano made amends soon after with a fine strike from outside the area. The lead was short lived, however, as Catania equalised from the penalty spot when Gabriel Heinze brought down Pablo Barrientos. Francesco Lodi made no mistake from the spot kick and sent Bogdan Lobont the wrong way. Catania then took the lead when Francesco Lodi short kick found Giovanni Marchese who struck with a left footed drive from outside of the area. But Roma fought back with thirteen minutes from time when Miralem Pjanic crossed in from the left for Francesco Totti to side foot home.

Sunday 6th May

The lunch time game was a in form Parma side who were looking to pick up their sixth straight win in the league travelled to Siena. Goals in the second half from Sebastian Giovinco, a contender for goal of the week with a twenty five yard rocket into the top corner. Sergio Floccari got the second after a poor defensive mistake and Floccari made no mistake slotting the ball into an empty net.

Udinese take one step closer to playing Champions League football next season with a 2-0 win over relegation battling Genoa. Antonio Di Natale opened the scoring with a free kick on the angle curled past Sebastian Frey who got caught at his near post. Antonio Floro Flores added a second as he volleyed past Frey at the back post and did not celebrate as the Udinese striker was on loan at Genoa last season. Genoa had to play for over fifty minutes with nine men as Juraj Kucka and Rodrigo Palacio were sent off, both players will miss the last day of the season.

An injury and suspension ravelled Lazio side travelled to Atalanta and picked up a crucial 2-0 win and gave their Champions League hope a slight chance. Goals in each half from Libor Kozak and Lorik Cana gave Lazio the three points.

Napoli with fifteen thousand travelling supporters travelled to Bologna hoping for a win and a race for third. But Bologna did not read the script goals in each half from Alessandro Diamanti and Matteo Rubin. But it spoiled over late in the game as Blerim Dzemaili and Archimede Morleo was sent off for a scuffle. This was Marco Di Vaio last home game for Bologna and the Italian striker is expected to go to the MLS and join the Canadian side Montreal Impact.

It was a battle of the relegated side as Novara took on Cesena. It was Novara who got the win thanks to a hat-trick from Marco Rigoni. The first two goals of the Rigoni hat trick came from the penalty spot. The hat-trick goal was a tap in after Morganella angled drive hit the upright and fell to Rigoni who taped the ball into an empty net.

We had an eight goal thriller in Scilly as Palermo came from 2-4 down to rescue a point in stoppage time. Fabrizio Miccoli opened the scoring from the penalty spot as he dummied and sent Stefano Sorrientino the wrong way. Fabrizio Miccoli added a second when he broke the offside trap after a header from Guilio Migliaccio fell to the Italian striker who chested the ball down and volleyed past Sorrentinio. Then came the Chievo comeback the first was a penalty awarded for a handball by Eros Pisano, it did look a little harsh. Serge Pellisier with a lethargic run up sent Emiliano Viviano the wrong way and it was 2-1. Fernando Uribe on the half hour made it 2-2 as he eased past Matias Silvestre and slotted the ball past Viviano. Twenty seconds into the second half Luciano made it 3-2 for Chievo as he slid the ball in from a cross from the right hand side. Serge Pellisier made it 4-2 as he sprung the offside trap and added his second of the game. Fabrizio Miccoli completed his hat-trick as he volleyed as Massimo Donati chipped ball. With two minutes remaining it was 4-4! A Fabrizio Miccoli corner was smashed home at the back post in off the cross bar by Matias Silvestre.

The Milan derby took centre stage in the evening while Cagliari entertained Juventus. Diego Milito gave Inter the lead, but, AC Milan won a controversial penalty just before half-time which Zlatan Ibrahimovic dispatched with aplomb. Thirty seconds into the second half Zlatan added his second of the game as he turned his defender and dinked the ball over the on rushing Julio Cesar. Then Inter equalised minutes later from the penalty spot and Diego Milito converted with ease high into the corner sending sub keeper Marco Amelia the wrong way. Then with thirteen minutes remaining Inter were awarded another penalty as Alessandro Nesta handled from a Giampaolo Pazzini header. Diego Milito made no mistake smashing his penalty down the middle and completing his hat-trick. Maicon added the fourth with a truly wonderful strike from outside the box. It was the icing on the cake as the win ensured an Inter victory and ended Milan’s hopes of retaining their domestic crown.

As the drama unfolded at the San Siro, Juventus did their part to secure the Scudetto in their away match in Trieste against Cagliari. Mirko Vucinic sprung the offside trap and slipped the ball through Agazzi legs to give Juventus the lead. They added a second with seventeen minutes remaining when Martin Caceras’ cross was turned in by Michele Canini into his own net. Wild celebrations followed the final whistle as Juventus, without an official league title since 2003, marked their return to the top of Italy.