Inter stalemate leaves Juve absolve to make it nine found in a row
Inter Milan’s goalless pull against Fiorentina on Wednesday still left Juventus needing just one single more win to case a ninth consecutive Serie A title.
Juve are six details clear of second-placed Atalanta and will state their 36th ‘Scudetto’ on Thursday with a win at struggling Udinese.
Antonio Conte’s Inter are third, one stage behind Atalanta with three games to take up, despite having dominated for long periods under the rain at the San Siro.
“Second place is certainly for losers,” said Conte, who coached Juventus to three of their current run of eight titles and continued to win the Premier League and FA Cup with Chelsea.
“I understand there are those who are content with this, but for me it really is meaningless.
“When you leave factors, it ensures that there are shortcomings.”
A good Romelu Lukaku header hit the woodwork after 18 a few minutes with Alexis Sanchez also missing a chance for the winner just after the break.
Fiorentina goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano pulled off a string of saves denying Nicolo Barella and Lukaku from close selection.
Inter’s place on the Champions League up coming season is assured however they could now finish fourth, with Lazio four points back ahead of their match with 13th-positioned Cagliari on Thursday.
“This year we have reaped significantly less than what we've sown,” continued Conte.
“We’re trying to work on the mentality and boost the killer-instinct, which a great team must have if it wants to fight for something important.
“But I’m happy that the players are disappointed with the effect, because it means that my work is making an impact.”
Conte took at Inter last summer time, hoping to greatly help the team win their first league title since 2010, the entire year of their unprecedented treble under Jose Mourinho. - Brescia relegated -
Roma, meanwhile, move back fifth before AC Milan, who beat Sassuolo on Tuesday, after routing already-relegated SPAL 6-1.
Bruno Peres scored a good second-1 / 2 brace with Carles Perez scoring his initially Serie A goal for the tourists with Nikola Kalinic and Nicolo Zaniolo as well on target.
Zaniolo’s goal on the ultimate minute was a outstanding specific run and finish and came just after rumours of the soaring star’s involvement in a dressing room bust-up.
Roma are two details before Milan, with both groups already assured of Europa League football next season.
Napoli are seventh, 3 points further back again after falling 2-1 at Parma.
Gianluca Caprari and Dejan Kulusevski ended a miserable go for Parma in a match where all three goals were scored from the penalty area.
A run of six defeats and one draw in Parma’s earlier seven matches was brought to an end thanks to the two spot-kicks which came later in each half.
It was a second loss because the return of football found in Italy for Gennaro Gattuso’s Napoli, whose Champions League last 16, second leg meet against Barcelona is weeks aside.
Napoli have already qualified for the Europa League after winning the Italian Cup.
In the bottom of the table, Genoa beat city rivals Sampdoria 2-1 to stay four points before Lecce who occupy the ultimate relegation place.
Lecce beat Brescia 3-1 to condemn their opponents to Serie B next season.
Udinese get into Thursday’s clash with Juventus level over 36 points with Genoa and with their Serie A good safety not yet assured.
