Juve clinch sixth straight Serie A title with 3-0 win
MILAN — Juventus became the first team to win Serie A six times in a row when they beat Crotone 3-0 on Sunday to clinch the title with one game to spare.
Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Alex Sandro shared the goals as the Turin side also won a league and cup double for the third time in a row and stayed on course for a treble.
The win over their relegationthreatened opponents, put Juventus four points clear of AS Roma who won 5-3 at Chievo on Saturday. Juventus, who are Italy’s most successful side in domestic terms with 33 league titles, will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on June 3 when they will attempt to complete the treble.
Crotone had won five and drawn two of their last seven games but were only able to resist for 12 minutes until Mandzukic got in front of his marker to turn in Juan Cuadrado’s low cross at the far post.
Dybala curled in a stunning 25-metre free kick six minutes before halftime and Alex Sandro completed the scoring in the 83rd minute with a shot which hit the underside of the crossbar, bounced down and crossed the goal line by centimetres.
Atalanta clinched fifth place and a spot in the Europa League group stage by winning 1-0 at Empoli and AC Milan made sure of sixth place, and a place in the Europa League qualifiers, by beating Bologna 3-0.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri called on the Turin giants to complete a historic treble in the Champions League final after securing a third successive league and Cup double on Sunday.
“This season was much different to last season. Now, we have the dream of the Champions League final, which you don’t get to play every year,” Allegri said after a 3-0 win over Crotone wrapped up a sixth straight Serie A title.
“It’s our second final in three years, so we have to congratulate everyone at the club. I’m happy to coach here, and we’ll soon sit down to talk about some ideas.
“But right now, the most important thing is to play, and win, the final in Cardiff.”
On Saturday, Roma won 5-3 at Chievo Verona in the penultimate round.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Roma, which had to twice come from behind in Verona to earn a club record seventh consecutive away victory.
The result also boosted Roma’s chances of finishing second and going straight into the Champions League group stage.
Stephan El Shaarawy and Mohamed Salah both scored twice for Roma.
Lucas Castro volleyed the home side into a surprise lead in the 15th minute after a Roberto Inglese header fell kindly for the Chievo winger.
Roma leveled shortly before the hour as El Shaarawy ran onto a Federico Fazio header from the halfway line and rounded Stefano Sorrentino, who rushed out to the edge of the penalty area, before depositing it into the empty net.
However, Inglese was left completely unmarked to head in Valter Birsa’s cross and restore Chievo’s lead. — Reuters/AP