May 5th, 2002, or 5 Maggio as it’s known by Juventini worldwide, still remains one of the most entertaining days in Italian football. Hector Cuper’s Inter started the day in pole position and were searching for their first title in 13 years. They were a point clear of Juventus and two ahead of Roma. The Nerazzurri faced Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, the Giallorossi battled Torino, and the Bianconeri took on Udinese.
David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero gave Juventus a 2-0 triumph, meaning they were temporarily top of the table. Antonio Cassano scored the only goal in Roma’s 1-0 win against Torino, meaning they were a point above Inter in second. However Lazio, who’s fans were cheering on the Milanese side due to the different scenarios involving two rivals, ended up downing the would-be champions 4-2. Juventus clinched their 27th Scudetto in the most emotional and sensational circumstances that the football world had ever seen at the time.
That triumph was the last time Juventus won the league before their win in 2011/12 as two of their Scudetti from 2004/05 and 2005/06 were stripped due to Calciopoli punishments. Eleven years later, on May 5th 2013, Juve met Palermo to try and earn their 29th title. The race wasn’t as dramatic like it was in 2002, but being crowned champions for a second consecutive year would put the exclamation mark on yet another season of dominance for the Bianconeri.
All The Old Lady needed was a draw in order to mathematically claim the title. Arturo Vidal would give the home crowd the best result possible in confirming their status as Italy’s best; with a win. Following a push from behind on Mirko Vucinic from Massimo Donati in the Rosanero penalty area, Vidal stepped up to the spot, like he usually does, and buried it past Stefano Sorrentino to give Juve a 1-0 lead on 59 minutes. A Paul Pogba red card was the only damper on an otherwise cheerful afternoon in Turin. After he tussled with Salvatore Aronica for the ball, the centre back inadvertently smacked Pogba in the face. Not taking the action too kindly, Pogba chased down Aronica and, from what was shown on the replays, spat in the defender’s face. Referee Andrea Romeo had no choice but to show the young Frenchman the red.
Pogba appeared to be upset at the time and will be suspended for at least the next game, but his mind will be focused on what every Juventus player is fixated on; winning the Scudetto. With a successful Champions League return and back-to-back titles, no one can underestimate The Old Lady. She’s still alive and kicking.
Other talking points
Other results: Chievo 0-0 Cagliari; Udinese 3-1 Sampdoria; Parma 2-0 Atalanta
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