{"id":3189,"date":"2013-05-06T02:24:58","date_gmt":"2013-05-06T02:24:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/juventus-win-29th-italian-title\/"},"modified":"2013-05-06T02:24:58","modified_gmt":"2013-05-06T02:24:58","slug":"juventus-win-29th-italian-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/juventus-win-29th-italian-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Juventus win 29th Italian title"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Arturo Vidal’s 10th league goal of the season was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Palermo and help ten-man Juventus to their 29th Serie A title on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Juve, however, courted controversy when several players brandished giant shields in the colours of the Italian flag and adorned with ’31′.<\/p>\n

The number was a reference to Juve’s belief that they have won 31 titles, despite being officially stripped of two league crowns several years ago due to their implication in a match-fixing affair.<\/p>\n

“We’ve taken a weight off our sholuders,” said goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon.<\/p>\n

“After winning the title last season, to finish second would have been a huge disappointment.”<\/p>\n

\"Juventus' <\/p>\n

Juventus’ coach Antonio Conte (C-L) celebrates after his team defeated Palermo to win the Scudetto, the Italian Serie A title on May 5,<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Juventus now have a 14-point lead over second-placed Napoli, who, even in the event of a win over Inter Milan later Sunday, can not overtake the Turin giants in the final three games of the season.<\/p>\n

Juve coach Antonio Conte spent the first four months of the season in the stands serving a ban for his alleged implication in a match-fixing affair at his former club, Siena.<\/p>\n

He said all the credit went to the players who, while defending the title, also made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League where they were ousted by Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n

“We are very happy. The credit must go to this extraordinary group of players who endured a tough and tiring season,” Conte told Sky Sport Italia.<\/p>\n

“I am proud of them because despite us being favourites, the Champions League added an extra layer of pressure.”<\/p>\n

Chilean international Vidal had been Juve’s top scorer this season, the attacking midfielder scoring nine in the league and 14 in all competitions prior to Sunday’s encounter at Juventus Stadium.<\/p>\n

When the hosts were awarded a penalty just before the hour after midfielder Massimo Donati fouled Bianconeri striker Mirko Vucinic in the area, Vidal stepped up to beat Stefano Sorrentino in the Palermo goal.<\/p>\n

Vidal was cautioned for over-exuberant celebrations but the goal sent Juventus Stadium into raptures.<\/p>\n

Juve’s title celebrations were tinged by the late sending-off of French midfielder Paul Pogba, who saw red seven minutes from the final whistle after spitting at Salvatore Aronica following a shouting match with the defender.<\/p>\n

Juventus, who won the title in 2012 after being unbeaten in the league the entire season, have lost only four times this campaign.<\/p>\n

The Turin giants have now secured one of two spots in Serie A which offer direct qualification for next season’s Champions League, with Napoli poised to claim the runners-up spot.<\/p>\n

AC Milan, currently third, boosted their chances of claiming the last Champions League spot after an 84th-minute winner from Mario Balotelli secured a 1-0 home win over Torino.<\/p>\n

Milan now have a four-point lead over Fiorentina with three games remaning. If Napoli lose to Inter, Allegri’s side could realistically hope to close the four-point gap to second.<\/p>\n

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