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05/03 16:17 CDT Inter Milan seals the Italian league soccer title with 3 rounds
to spare
Inter Milan seals the Italian league soccer title with 3 rounds to spare
MILAN (AP) --- Inter Milan sealed the Italian league soccer title with a 2-0
victory over visiting Parma on Sunday.
Inter, which needed only a draw to secure the trophy, moved an unassailable 12
points clear of 2025 champion Napoli with three rounds remaining.
It's Inter's 21st Serie A title, trailing only the record 36 held by Juventus.
But Inter hadn't sealed the title before its home fans at the San Siro since
the 1989 title --- nearly four decades ago.
Marcus Thuram scored just before the break with an angled shot placed just
beyond the reach of Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. Then 37-year-old Henrikh
Mkhitaryan added another in the 80th after taking a pass from Serie A scoring
leader Lautaro Martinez, who came off the bench to mark his return from an
injury layoff.
Thuram was born in Parma while his father, Lilian Thuram, played there.
"Since I arrived at Inter, it's been a team that loves to stay together --- on
and off the field --- and that's our strength," Thuram said.
For Cristian Chivu, Inter's first-year coach, the trophy was secured against
the club he coached last season --- having helped Parma avoid relegation.
Chivu, who was hired to replace the departed Simone Inzaghi nearly a year ago,
played on the Inter team that won a treble under Jos Mourinho in 2010.
In the running for two trophies this season, Inter will face Lazio in the
Italian Cup final in 10 days.
The domestic success has come in sharp contrast to Inter's ouster from this
season's Champions League playoffs by tiny Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt. Last
season, Inter was routed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League
final.
Still, it's an improvement from last season's Serie A when Inter finished one
point behind Napoli.
Inter midfielder Nicol Barella was reminded how he was a leader on the Italy
team that failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
"That's football and life. There are difficult moments," Barella said. "For
example, last season we came so close to everything and won nothing. In life
you've always got to get back up on your feet."
AC Milan and Juventus at risk While Inter was celebrating, AC Milan and Juventus were at risk of losing their Champions League places. Milan was reduced to 10 men and beaten 2-0 at Sassuolo for its fourth loss in seven matches. Then Juventus drew 1-1 with relegated Hellas Verona. Third-placed Milan was left only two points ahead of fourth-placed Juventus, which is just three points ahead of fifth-placed Como, which is trying to get into the top four and secure a Champions League spot. Three rounds remain in the Italian league. Domenico Berardi scored early on for Sassuolo for his 12th career goal against Milan and Fikayo Tomori was sent off before Armand Lauriente doubled the advantage after the break. Milan has scored only one goal in its last five matches. Christian Pulisic, who came on in the second half, extended his goalless streak to a career-high 17 league matches. Vlahovic equalizes for Juventus Juventus also dropped points at home against Verona but extended its unbeaten run to nine matches. Kieron Bowie put Verona ahead after intercepting a pass from Juventus defender Gleison Bremer then Dusan Vlahovic equalized for Juventus with a free kick around Verona's wall for his first goal since October. Also, Bologna was held 0-0 by Cagliari in a regional derby. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer |
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