What happened in Serie A 1976-77

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The previous season had seen Torino win the scudetto ahead of Juventus and Milan. After the first 15 games, the Bianconeri had a three-point lead over the Granata which increased to 5 with ten games left. But then three consecutive losses including the derby had allowed Torino to move ahead and they then kept the lead until the end.

In the summer transfer window Juve signed Romeo Benetti, Roberto Boninsegna and Antonio Cabrini in order to try and overtake Torino who stayed as they were. The Bianconeri also changed manager, choosing young Giovanni Trapattoni. Inter signed Pietro Anastasi, Milan Fabio Capello and new manager Giuseppe Marchioro who was introducing the zonal defensive setup.

September

In the European Cup, Torino eliminated Malmo FF 3-2 on aggregate and in the Cup Winners Cup Napoli had the better of Bodo/Glimt 3-0. In the UEFA Cup, Milan eliminated Dinamo Bucuresti (2-1 on aggregate) and Juventus also went through winning 2-1 against Manchester City. Inter and Cesena were eliminated by Budapest Honved (2-1) and Magdeburg (4-3).

In Coppa Italia, Milan, Juventus, Inter, Spal, Lecce, Bologna and Vicenza qualified for the second group stage where they would be joined by Napoli who won the trophy the previous season.

October

The Turin based teams won their first four games and were already leading followed by Napoli who beat Milan.

In the European Cup Torino lost at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1. It would be very tough to go through. In the Cup Winners Cup Napoli drew away to APOEL. In the first leg of the second round of the UEFA Cup, Milan lost away with Akademik Sofia 4-3 and Juventus lost against Manchester United 1-0.

Torino 8, Juventus 8, Napoli 7, Perugia 6, Lazio 5, Roma 4, Inter 4, Milan 4, Verona 4, Fiorentina 3, Catanzaro 3, Foggia 2, Sampdoria 2, Bologna 2, Genoa 1, Cesena 1

November

Juventus continued their winning streak and took advantage of Torino drawing at Perugia to take the solitary lead. The Milan derby ended in a draw and the Rome one saw Lazio prevail and take third place.

Torino were unable to overturn the result against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the return match of the second round of the European Cup. They drew 0-0. Napoli qualified for the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup by beating APOEL at home 2-0. Both Milan and Juventus qualified for the third round of the UEFA Cup by beating Akademik Sofia 2-0 and Manchester United 3-0. In the first leg of the third round, Milan crumbled against Athletic Bilbao 4-1 while Juve beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0.

Juventus 14, Torino 13, Lazio 10, Napoli 9, Perugia 7, Roma 7, Fiorentina 7, Inter 7, Milan 6, Verona 6, Bologna 6, Foggia 5, Catanzaro 5, Sampdoria 5, Genoa 3, Cesena 2

December

Torino won the derby and went back into the lead which increased by another point after the 9th fixture as the Bianconeri drew at home with Fiorentina and the Granata won at Catanzaro.

On December 2, Tommaso Maestrelli died, a sad day for football.

Milan went close to overturning the result of the first leg of the UEFA Cup but won 3-1 against Athletic Bilbao and were eliminated. Juventus went through to the quarter finals despite losing 1-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Torino 19, Juventus 17, Napoli 13, Lazio 12, Inter 12, Fiorentina 11, Perugia 11, Roma 9, Verona 9, Milan 8, Sampdoria 8, Foggia 8, Genoa 7, Bologna 7, Catanzaro 7, Cesena 2

January

Another tragedy hit Lazio as Luciano Re Cecconi died when he was shot by a jeweller who had not recognised him and feeling threatened had opened fire. He was only 28. The double blow was tough on the Biancocelesti who started to fall behind.

In the meantime, the leading duo continued in their quest for the title. Juventus by winning in Naples joined their cousins, held by Lazio in a spectacular 3-3 draw, at the top. They then took a solitary lead when they beat Inter at home and Torino drew against Milan. But a loss against Roma allowed Torino, who beat Foggia, to return to the previous month’s status quo.

At the bottom Foggia, Bologna and Cesena were in deep trouble.

Torino 24, Juventus 23, Inter 17, Napoli 17, Fiorentina 16, Lazio 15, Roma 14, Perugia 14, Verona 14, Genoa 13, Milan 12, Sampdoria 11, Catanzaro 11, Foggia 8, Bologna 8, Cesena 7

February

The lead was swapped continuously during the month as Torino also lost against Roma and drew at Genoa while Juve won all of their games with the exception of a draw against the Ligurian Rossoblu. As a consequence the Bianconeri were back in the lead. In the fight to avoid Serie B, Foggia and Bologna caught up with Sampdoria and Catanzaro.

Juventus 30, Torino 29, Inter 23, Fiorentina 21, Napoli 20, Perugia 18, Roma 18, Verona 18, Lazio 17, Genoa 16, Milan 16, Foggia 13, Sampdoria 13, Catanzaro 13, Bologna 13, Cesena 10

March

In the 21st fixture Torino caught up only to lose the lead again the week after. The Milan derby ended in a draw and Roma beat Lazio. Down below Catanzaro fell back a little bit and Cesena were unable to leave the bottom of the table.

Napoli qualified for the semi-finals of the Cup Winners Cup by eliminating Slask Wroclaw 2-0 on aggregate. Juventus did the same in the UEFA Cup eliminating Magdeburg 4-1 on aggregate.

Juventus 37, Torino 36, Inter 26, Napoli 25, Fiorentina 25, Roma 23, Genoa 22, Perugia 22, Verona 21, Lazio 20, Milan 19, Foggia 17, Sampdoria 16, Bologna 16, Catanzaro 14, Cesena 13

April

Torino won all of their games but Juventus drew the last match of the month at Perugia and the duo were level again. The battle to avoid relegation now included Milan while Cesena could already be considered in Serie B.

Napoli missed out on the final of the Cup Winners Cup. In the first leg they won 1-0 but lost 2-0 in the second against Anderlecht. Juventus qualified for the UEFA Cup final by winning both legs against AEK Athens. They would face Athletic Bilbao in the final.

Torino 43, Juventus 43, Inter 31, Napoli 29, Fiorentina 28, Perugia 26, Lazio 25, Roma 25, Genoa 24, Verona 24, Milan 22, Foggia 22, Bologna 22, Sampdoria 20, Catanzaro 19, Cesena 13

May

Lazio stopped Torino and Juventus beat Napoli so the Bianconeri were back ahead. The Bianconeri won the remaining matches and the scudetto was theirs. It was not enough for Torino to earn more points than the previous season, only lose one game and have the best defence.

The battle for the UEFA Cup qualification was tough with many teams involved. With two games to go, Inter had secured their place and Fiorentina needed just one point. For the other places the table read Napoli 29, Lazio 27, Perugia, Foggia, Roma and Verona 26, Genoa and Bologna 25. Lazio won the last two matches, the others did not, so it was the Biancocelesti to secure their place. Napoli were given a one-point docking for the continuous problems created by their fans during the entire season.

With three games to the end Milan were third from bottom and in trouble. But they beat Catanzaro and Bologna won against Sampdoria who then lost their last game at home with Juve and thus joined  Catanzaro and Cesena in Serie B. They would be replaced for the next season by Vicenza, Atalanta and Pescara.

Juventus completed the double by winning the UEFA Cup against Athletic Bilbao. In the first leg at home they won 1-0 and then lost 2-1 in Bilbao so the win came thanks to the away goal rule.

Final table: Juventus 51, Torino 50, Fiorentina 35, Inter 33, Lazio 31, Perugia 29, Napoli 28*, Roma 28, Verona 28, Milan 27, Genoa 27, Bologna 27, Foggia 26, Sampdoria 24, Catanzaro 21, Cesena 14* one point docking

June and July

Milan and Inter qualified for the final of the Coppa Italia winning their semi-final groups. In the final at San Siro in July, the Rossoneri beat the Nerazzurri in the derby 2-0, their fourth win in the competition.

As a consequence, Juventus would be playing the European Cup, Milan the Cup Winners Cup, Torino, Fiorentina, Inter and Lazio the UEFA Cup.

The top scorer was Francesco Graziani (Torino) with 21 goals.