How AC Milan won the Serie A title

May 8, 2011 12:30:00 PM

The San Siro club have clinched their first Scudetto in seven years, so to celebrate Goal.com looks back at their triumphant season round-by-round

AC Milan are the champions of Italy for the 18th time after drawing with Roma on Saturday to put Inter out of sight with two games still to play. Their success was predictably greeted by a huge celebration in Piazza del Duomo in the centre of Milan as fans of the Red Devils congregated to toast their first Scudetto since 2004.

It has not all been plain sailing for Milan this season: they started slowly and endured a shaky period not long after the new year. Yet over the course of the campaign they have been without doubt the best side in the country. Vital league doubles over challengers Inter and Napoli were particularly important, with home victories over each coming at important stages of the second stage of the season when their form looked to be failing them.

The impact of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho in the summer cannot be underestimated, nor can the additions of Antonio Cassano and Mark van Bommel in January as the San Siro men recruited wisely ahead of the run-in. Massimiliano Allegri has also earned praise for the way he has handled the side in what has been his first season in charge of any of Italy's bigger-name clubs.

Below we take you through Milan's season round-by-round, highlighting their noticeable peaks and occasional troughs in a memorable campaign.

AUGUST

GIORNATA 1 - August 29 - LECCE (h) Won 4-0
Ronaldinho pulled the strings as the Rossoneri put on a show for the onlooking Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was paraded around in front of his new fans at half-time.
Pato 16, 28, Thiago Silva 23, Inzaghi 90

SEPTEMBER

	GIORNATA 2 - Sep 11 - CESENA (a) Lost 0-2 The big party which had been planned for Ibrahimovic and fellow new signing Robinho fell extremely flat as newly-promoted Cesena upset the odds. The giant Swede even missed a second-half penalty, but Bogdani and Giaccherini had the game won by then anyway.


	GIORNATA 3 - Sep 18 - CATANIA (h) Drew 1-1 A slow-starting Milan were hit by Ciro Capuano's magnificent left-foot volley after half an hour, but the old stager Filippo Inzaghi again showed his predatory instincts to equalise. Inzaghi 45

	GIORNATA 4 - Sep 22 - LAZIO (a) Drew 1-1 Ibrahimovic was foiled early on by Fernando Muslera before eventually breaking the deadlock in the final half-hour to give Milan a deserved lead, but Lazio fought back hard and Sergio Floccari levelled late on. Ibrahimovic 66

	GIORNATA 5 - Sep 25 - GENOA (h) Won 1-0 A September win finally arrived in what was to become familiar fashion as Ibrahimovic shrugged off two men to toe-poke the ball over Eduardo after the Rossoneri had struggled to convince. Ibrahimovic 49

SERIE A - September 30
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Inter	5	3	1	1	8	3	11
5	AC Milan	5	2	2	1	8	4	8

OCTOBER

GIORNATA 6 - Oct 2 - PARMA (a) Won 1-0 Playing their game on Saturday night the Diavoli had the chance to briefly go top of Serie A, and an Andrea Pirlo 30-yard blockbuster saw them to the summit as they stated their Scudetto intent. Pirlo 25

GIORNATA 7 - Oct 16 - CHIEVO (h) Won 3-1 Milan finally scored multiple goals for the first time in six games as Pato grabbed a first-half brace. Ibra turned into his own net under pressure from Bostjan Cesar before Robinho's first Milan goal clinched it. Pato 18, 30, Robinho 90+3

GIORNATA 8 - Oct 25 - NAPOLI (a) Won 2-1 A once-in-a-season display from Massimo Oddo led the Rossoneri to victory. Robinho's left-foot shot and Ibrahimovic's header, both from Oddo crosses, made Lavezzi's wonder goal a mere consolation. Robinho 22, Ibrahimovic 72

GIORNATA 9 - Oct 30 - JUVENTUS (h) Lost 1-2 A resurgent Juve made Milan's slack defence pay by collecting all three points at San Siro. Quagliarella and Del Piero put the visitors out of sight, though Ibrahimovic's late goal briefly raised hopes. Ibrahimovic 82

SERIE A - October 31
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Lazio	9	7	1	1	13	6	22
3	AC Milan	9	5	2	2	14	8	17

NOVEMBER

	GIORNATA 10 - Nov 7 - BARI (a) Won 3-2 In a thriller in Puglia, skipper Ambrosini and rare starter Flamini put Milan in control. Pato restored the two-goal lead after Kutuzov had netted, and Barreto's goal came too late for the home side. Ambrosini 5, Flamini 31, Pato 72

	GIORNATA 11 - Nov 10 - PALERMO (h) Won 3-1 The Rossoneri prepared for the derby in style by seeing off plucky Palermo. Armin Bacinovic cancelled out Pato's opener, but Ibrahimovic's penalty and Robinho's late effort ensured three points. Pato 19, Ibrahimovic (pen) 77, Robinho 83

	GIORNATA 12 - Nov 14 - INTER (a) Won 1-0 The inevitable happened in the Milan derby as Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted the winner in front of his old Curva Nord faithful. His fifth-minute penalty after Materazzi's foul proved enough to see off Inter. Ibrahimovic (pen) 5

	GIORNATA 13 - Nov 20 - FIORENTINA (h) Won 1-0 Ibrahimovic was the difference once more as a more impressive Viola side failed to make the most of the liveliness of Cerci and Ljajic. The Swede volleyed home late in the first half to earn the three points. Ibrahimovic 45

	GIORNATA 14 - Nov 27 - SAMPDORIA (a) Drew 1-1 Milan's ability to strike before half-time again helped them out again as Robinho fired home. The Cassano-less Doria hit back though with Pazzini's equaliser to prevent a 100% month for the visitors. Robinho 43

SERIE A - November 30
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	AC Milan	14	9	3	2	23	12	30
2	Lazio	14	8	3	3	17	11	27

DECEMBER

GIORNATA 15 - Dec 4 - BRESCIA (h) Won 3-0 Milan ripped the Rondinelle apart from the kick-off as Boateng, Robinho and Ibrahimovic sent them three goals ahead in half an hour. The leaders took their foot off the pedal after the break at a cold San Siro. Boateng 4, Robinho 28, Ibrahimovic 31

GIORNATA 16 - Dec 12 - BOLOGNA (a) Won 3-0 One week on, the same three players struck as Milan overcame what should have been a difficult encounter with some ease. Ibrahimovic was once again the inspiration, ensuring top spot at Christmas. Boateng 9, Robinho 35, Ibrahimovic 60

GIORNATA 17 - Dec 18 - ROMA (h) Lost 0-1 Marco Borriello came back to haunt his old club by turning home Jeremy Menez's low cross after Luca Antonini fell asleep midway through the second half. The result left Milan just three points clear at the top of Serie A at the turn of the year.

SERIE A - December 31
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	AC Milan	17	11	3	3	29	13	36
2	Napoli	17	10	3	4	26	17	33

JANUARY

	GIORNATA 18 - Jan 6 - CAGLIARI (a) Won 1-0 With Ibrahimovic suspended, Milan were bailed out late on by debutant Antonio Cassano, who laid on a winner for Rodney Strasser just when it appeared that their chance had gone. Strasser 85

	GIORNATA 19 - Jan 9 - UDINESE (h) Drew 4-4 Having been 1-0 and 3-1 down, Alexandre Pato's second goal levelled the scores late on, but after German Denis' 89th-minute effort Milan still managed to grab a point thanks to Ibrahimovic on 93 minutes. Pato 45, 82, Benatia (og) 78, Ibrahimovic 90+3

	GIORNATA 20 - Jan 16 - LECCE (a) Drew 1-1 Ibrahimovic's wonder goal - striking a left-footed volley over Rosati with his back half turned to goal - seemed set to win the points but Ruben Olivera pounced on Nesta's error to earn Lecce parity. Ibrahimovic 49

	GIORNATA 21 - Jan 23 - CESENA (h) Won 2-0 He might not have played well, but Ibra was the difference again as Milan avenged their defeat in week 2. Pellegrino scored an own goal under pressure from the Swede, who added a second in stoppages. Pellegrino (og) 45, Ibrahimovic 90+2

	GIORNATA 22 - Jan 29 - CATANIA (a) Won 2-0 The Rossoneri kept up the pace at 'Fortress Massimino' despite Mark van Bommel seeing red at 0-0. Robinho followed up Ibrahimovic's free-kick before the Swede scored from the former's assist. Robinho 58, Ibrahimovic 85

SERIE A - January 31
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	AC Milan	22	14	5	3	39	18	47
2	Napoli	22	13	4	5	36	20	43

FEBRUARY

GIORNATA 23 - Feb 1 - LAZIO (h) Drew 0-0 Ibrahimovic hit the post twice with one shot as Milan extended their lead to five points. On an otherwise uneventful night, the Rossoneri lost debutant sub Nicola Legrottaglie to a nasty head injury.

GIORNATA 24 - Feb 6 - GENOA (a) Drew 1-1 Napoli reduced the gap at the top to three points as Antonio Floro Flores' goal late in the first half cancelled out Pato's opener, though Milan had a second ruled out for a marginal offside when still 1-0 up. Pato 29

GIORNATA 25 - Feb 12 - PARMA (h) Won 4-0 A goal and two assists from Antonio Cassano led the Rossoneri to a thumping victory. Clarence Seedorf grabbed his first of the season and Robinho hit a brace in their biggest win since week 1. Seedorf 8, Cassano 17, Robinho 62, 65

GIORNATA 26 - Feb 20 - CHIEVO (a) Won 2-1 After the Champions League loss to Tottenham, Milan bounced back to toast Silvio Berlusconi's 25th anniversary with three points. Robinho and Pato struck in their commemorative shirts signed by the president. Robinho 25, Pato 82

GIORNATA 27 - Feb 28 - NAPOLI (h) Won 3-0 One of their biggest wins of Milan's season. Ibrahimovic and Pato combined superbly to silence both the doubters and a huge away following. The pair struck either side of a Boateng goal to go five clear. Ibrahimovic (pen) 49, Boateng 77, Pato 80

SERIE A - February 28
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	AC Milan	27	17	7	3	49	20	58
2	Inter	27	16	5	6	49	29	53

MARCH

	GIORNATA 28 - Mar 5 - JUVENTUS (a) Won 1-0 The leaders backed up their Napoli win by seeing off the Bianconeri with Gennaro Gattuso's second-half strike. Their success came off the back of substitute Robinho's superb display after the break. Gattuso 68

	GIORNATA 29 - Mar 13 - BARI (h) Drew 1-1 After their European exit, Milan also took a hit in the league as Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off for punching Marco Rossi. The 10 men earned a point when Cassano slotted home against his former club. Cassano 82

	GIORNATA 30 - Mar 19 - PALERMO (a) Lost 0-1 A shock early goal from Dorin Goian proved too much for Milan to overcome as the Sicilians recorded their only victory under Serse Cosmi. Without the suspended Ibrahimovic the Rossoneri never really convinced and by the end the Rosanero were worthy winners.

SERIE A - March 31
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	AC Milan	30	18	8	4	51	22	62
2	Inter	30	18	6	6	56	32	60

APRIL

GIORNATA 31 - Apr 2 - INTER (h) Won 3-0 Pato struck twice, including one goal inside 45 seconds, as Milan completed the derby double and took a huge step towards the title. Cassano's penalty provided the icing before he saw red in stoppages. Pato 1, 62, Cassano (pen) 90

GIORNATA 32 - Apr 10 - FIORENTINA (a) Won 2-1 Milan re-established their three-point lead after Napoli's win at Bologna despite losing Ibrahimovic to a second successive red card. Seedorf and Pato put them in control before Vargas' late consolation. Seedorf 8, Pato 41

GIORNATA 33 - Apr 16 - SAMPDORIA (h) Won 3-0 Sorry Samp were swept aside as the leaders kept up their blistering April pace. Seedorf's swerving free-kick put them ahead before Cassano scored one and made another for Robinho after the break. Seedorf 20, Cassano (pen) 54, Robinho 61

GIORNATA 34 - Apr 23 - BRESCIA (a) Won 1-0 The title was just four points away after this deserved win at the Rigamonti. Antonio Cassano missed four good chances before teeing up Robinho for the late winner in front of a huge away following. Robinho 82

SERIE A - April 30
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	AC Milan	34	22	8	4	60	23	74
2	Inter	34	20	6	8	60	38	66

MAY

	GIORNATA 35 - May 1 - BOLOGNA (h) Won 1-0 A nervous Milan held on to a lead given to them by an early goal by Mathieu Flamini as Henry Gimenez and Miguel Angel Britos missed great chances to put the cat among the pigeons. Flamini 8

	GIORNATA 36 - May 7 - ROMA (a) Drew 0-0 The heroics of Abbiati and Nesta were needed early on to keep out the capital side before Boateng missed a great chance to ease the nerves, but they held out from there with few real worries to become the Italian champions for the 18th time.

SERIE A - May 7
		P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	AC Milan	36	23	9	4	61	23	78
2	Inter	35	21	6	8	62	39	69

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