Milan claimed an 18th Serie A title following a 0-0 draw at Roma last night that gave them an unassailable lead at the top of the table with two games to go.
Milan came into the game knowing they needed only a draw to be sure of winning the scudetto crown and they never looked in danger of failing to do so.
The draw pushed their lead over second-placed Inter, who still have three to play, to nine points but with a better head-to-head record, the rosssoneri cannot now be overtaken.
And the title is all the sweeter for Milan who have put an end to their arch rivals Inter’s run of five straight league crowns.
This was far from a vintage performance but Milan produced the kind of calm and controlled display necessary to get just what they needed. They created little themselves but they did come the closest to scoring and gave Roma very little to work with.
Milan produced a neat passing move on 10 minutes with Clarence Seedorf setting up Kevin-Prince Boateng, who fired high and wide. Up the other end Rodrigo Taddei flashed a speculative effort wide of the far post.
The chance of the half came on 14 minutes.
Marco Cassetti skipped past Gianluca Zambrotta, dinked the ball to the back post where Ignazio Abate mis-timed his jump and Mirko Vucinic opted to take it down on his chest only for Christian Abbiati to spread himself well to smother his volley.
Roma had possibly the better of the chances as early substitute Aleandro Rosi crossed for Vucinic who hadn’t committed himself, allowing Alessandro Nesta to whisk the ball clear.
Rosi then hit a low shot that Abbiati got down to at his near post.
Robinho was quick to wake everyone from their slumber in the first minute of the second half as he curled a shot against the post after Abate had driven at a hesitant Roma defence.
On the hour Milan carved Roma open with Massimo Ambrosini chipping the ball over the backline but Boateng’s shot drifted agonisingly just past the far post.
Roma finally started to show some signs of urgency as the game wound down but it was too little too late and Milan held on comfortably.
Serie A Champions
Juventus 27 titles; Milan 18; Inter 18; Genoa 9; Torino 7; Bologna 7; Pro Vercelli 7; Roma 3; Lazio 2; Fiorentina 2; Napoli 2; Cagliari 1; Casale 1; Novese 1; Sampdoria 1; Verona 1.
Serie B
Siena and Atalanta have been promoted to Serie A after securing the results they needed yes-terday.
Siena drew 2-2 at home to Torino while Atalanta thumped Portogruaro 4-1 to both move 10 points clear of third-placed Novara with just three games left.
Both were relegated from Serie A last season but have secured an immediate return to the flight.
Serie A
Palermo 2
Miccoli 39; Bovo 53;
Bari 1
Bentivoglio 7;
HT: 1-1. Att: 19,808.
Missed penalty: Miccoli (P) 65.
Roma 0
Milan 0
Att: 60,000.
Today – 15.00
Bologna vs Parma (0-0)
Brescia vs Catania (0-1)
Cagliari vs Cesena (0-1)
Genoa vs Sampdoria (1-0) - 20.45
Inter vs Fiorentina (2-1)
Lecce vs Napoli (0-1)
Udinese vs Lazio (2-3)
Tomorrow
Juventus vs Chievo (1-1) - 20.45
Next fixtures
Tuesday: Coppa Italia SF, second leg 20.45 Palermo vs Milan.
Wednesday: Coppa Italia SF, second leg 20.45 Inter vs Roma.
Saturday: 18.00 Lazio vs Genoa. 20.45 Milan vs Cagliari.
Sunday: 12.30 Fiorentina vs Bologna. 15.00 Bari vs Lecce; Catania vs Roma; Cesena vs Brescia; Chievo vs Udinese; Parma vs Juventus; Sampdoria vs Palermo. 20.45 Napoli vs Inter.
Serie B
Atalanta 4 - Portogruaro 1
Crotone 0 - Novara 3
Empoli 3 - AlbinoLeffe 1
Frosinone 4 - Vicenza 0
Modena 1 - Grosseto 1
Padova 3 - Ascoli 1
Piacenza 1 - Sassuolo 0
Siena 2 - Torino 2
Triestina 3 - Cittadella 2
Today
Reggina vs Varese (0-1) - 12.30
Standings: Siena 74 (promoted); Atalanta 74 (promoted); Novara 64; Varese 61; Torino 54; Reggina, Livorno, Padova 53; Pescara, Empoli 52; Crotone 50; Modena, Vicenza, Grosseto 49; Piacenza 46; Sassuolo 45; Cittadella 44; AlbinoLeffe 43; Ascoli 42; Portogruaro, Triestina 40; Frosinone 38.