Alessandro Circati could not stop Inter Milan becoming champions of Italy again, have sealed the Serie A title with a 2-0 victory over visiting the Australian’s club Parma.
Inter, who needed only a draw to secure the trophy on Sunday, moved an unassailable 12 points clear of 2025 champions Napoli with three rounds remaining.
It’s Inter’s 21st Serie A title, trailing only the record 36 held by Juventus.
Marcus Thuram scored just before the break with an angled shot placed just beyond the reach of Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuk, then 37-year-old Henrikh Mkhitaryan added another in the 80th after taking a pass from Serie A top scorer Lautaro Martinez, who came off the bench to mark his return from an injury lay-off.
Thuram was born in Parma while his father, Lilian Thuram, also played there.
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 Jose Mourinho in 2010.
In the running for two trophies this season, Inter will next face Lazio in the Italian Cup final in 10 days.
The domestic success has come in sharp contrast to Inter getting knocked out from this season’s Champions League play-offs by tiny Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt. [embedded content]
Last season, Inter were routed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, but this triumph was a big improvement from last season’s Serie A when they finished one point behind Napoli.
While Inter were celebrating, AC Milan and Juventus were at risk of losing their Champions League places.
Milan were reduced to 10 men and beaten 2-0 at Sassuolo for their fourth loss in seven matches, before Juventus drew 1-1 with relegated Hellas Verona.
Third-placed Milan are only two points ahead of fourth-placed Juventus, who are three points ahead of fifth-placed Como.
Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior has scored two second-half goals and Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 to delay Barcelona from clinching their second straight Spanish league title.
Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-1 on Saturday to open a 14-point gap over Madrid entering Sunday’s matches. Anything but a win by Madrid against Barcelona’s city rivals would have allowed the Catalan club to celebrate their 29th La Liga title this weekend.
Hansi Flick’s side will have the chance to clinch the title next weekend they host Madrid in a “clasico” at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s lead is 11 points heading into the final four rounds of the campaign.
“We have a big game against a great rival and they have been playing well,” Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said.
“It’s a special game for the fans, for us. We are going to rest and prepare well for it.”
Sunday’s result kept Espanyol winless in 17 consecutive games this year, with 10 losses. They sit in 13th place, but just five points above the relegation zone.
It was a hard-fought match until Vinícius broke the deadlock in the 55th minute after a nice fake move to get past a couple of defenders inside the area. The Brazil forward added to the lead in the 66th with a shot into the top corner after a beautiful back-heel set up by Jude Bellingham. [embedded content]