Inter Milan wins Serie A after 11 years

Inter Milan clinched their first Serie A title in 11 years on Sunday after Sassuolo drew 1-1 with second-placed Atalanta to assure Antonio Conte’s side of the league crown. Inter are 13 points clear in first place with four games remaining, and their triumph ends a run of nine consecutive title wins for Juventus. The league title is Inter’s first since winning the Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League Treble in 2009/10 under Jose Mourinho, and their 19th overall. Atalanta goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini saw red after 22 minutes, but the Bergamo club went in front 10 minutes later through a Robin Gosens strike. Sassuolo equalised early in the second half through a Domenico Berardi penalty, but the hosts were then also reduced to 10 men when Marlon earned a second yellow and conceded a penalty. However, Luis Muriel’s spot kick was saved by Andrea Consigli. 

Inter defeated Crotone 2-0 on Saturday to move up to 82 points, and Atalanta's draw ensured it was mathematically impossible for any of the chasing pack to catch them. Inter have led the league standings for the last 13 rounds since beating Lazio 3-1 on Feb. 14, improving on a runners-up finish in Conte’s debut season in 2019/20. Inter have therefore overtaken AC Milan, who have 18 Serie A titles, to become the second-most successful club in league history behind Juventus, with 36 league wins.

Inter appointed Conte, who won the Premier League title with Chelsea in 2017, in May 2019.

"It's a new planet for me," said Conte of his time at Inter. "It wasn't easy, it's not easy now and it won't be easy in the future because there are a lot of dynamics in play, and people look to create negativity around Inter whenever the smallest opportunity arises. More positivity when we're spoken about would be nice."

Inter's win at Crotone marked the 14th time this season that Conte's team has kept a clean sheet.

"We've become more compact, we look to help one another as teammates, we've worked to become a winning group and results have improved." Inter defender Stefan de Vrij told the club's website.

"The Coach transmits passion and a winning mentality to us. The group is united, and the way everyone has improved made us understand that we were moving in the right direction. For us defenders, it's a pleasure to work together and we've known each for years and now know how to move together."

Inter and Juve were two of the 12 clubs that last month announced their intention to breakaway from the current UEFA competition format and create their very own European Super League, before the project quickly unraveled. In an underwhelming season for Juve, the Turin club's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League could be scuppered by Inter when the two teams meet on May 15.