What happened in Serie A 1981-82

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The previous season had seen Juventus win the scudetto, Roma second two points behind and Napoli third. At the end of the first part of the season Roma were ahead on 20 points followed by Inter one point behind, Juve and Napoli two. Five matches later the Bianconeri had joined the Giallorossi at the top followed by Napoli one point behind. Inter had lost ground. With five games left in the season Juve, Roma and Napoli were all on 35 points. Then the Neapolitans lost at home with Perugia, Roma drew at Ascoli and Juve took the solitary lead by winning at Udine. With three games left the scudetto race was between the Bianconeri on 39 points and the Giallorossi one point behind. On May 10, 1981 the big clash in Turin between the top two. Roma scored with Ramon Turone but it was disallowed due to offside. The myth of that goal is still with us today. Going into the last 90 minutes Juve still had the single point advantage and kept it by beating Perugia.

In the summer transfer window not a lot happened. Pietro Paolo Virdis went back to Juventus who sold Franco Causio to Udinese, Salvatore Bagni went to Inter, Roma acquired Sebino Nela. Fiorentina were very active, signing Eraldo Pecci, Ciccio Graziani, Antonello Cuccureddu, Pietro Vierchwod, Daniele Massaro and Paolo Monelli.

Juventus were favourites shortly followed by Roma, but Fiorentina could be a surprise.

August & September

Juventus won their first three games and were already in front. Milan on their return to Serie A won in Naples

In the European Cup Juventus eliminated Celtic 2-1 on aggregate overcoming a 1-0 defeat in the first leg. In the Cup Winners Cup Roma easily went through to the second round beating Ballymena United 6-0 on aggregate. In the UEFA Cup Inter won 7-2 on aggregate against Adanaspor while Napoli were eliminated on away goals by Radnicki Nis.

In Coppa Italia the following teams won their groups: Torino (eliminating Juventus), Catanzaro, Inter (eliminating Milan), Sampdoria, Napoli, Fiorentina, Reggiana. They would be joined by Roma, who won last year’s trophy, in the quarter finals.

Juventus 6, Roma 4, Torino 4, Inter 4, Milan 4, Ascoli 3*, Fiorentina 3*, Avellino 3, Catanzaro 3, Cagliari 2, Napoli 2, Bologna 2, Genoa 2, Cesena 2, Como 1, Udinese 1

* one game in hand

October

Juventus continued their winning streak beating Milan away and winning the derby. Inter won their derby and joined Roma in second place.

Juventus lost the first leg 3-1 against Anderlecht in the second round of the European Cup. Roma lost 2-0 to Porto in the Cup Winners Cup. Inter drew at home 1-1 with Dinamo Bucharest in the UEFA Cup.

Juventus 12, Roma 9, Inter 9, Fiorentina 8, Napoli 7, Bologna 6, Catanzaro 6, Ascoli 5, Torino 5, Cagliari 5, Genoa 5, Milan 5, Avellino 4, Cesena 4, Udinese 3, Como 3

November

Juventus fell in the mighty clash against Roma at home, partial revenge for the Giallorossi for last year’s result. It must have been a shock because the Bianconeri lost even the next game against Genoa and Roma by beating Bologna were the new leaders. It did not last long as they lost in Milan against Inter and Juve went back into the lead, joined by the Nerazzurri in the last fixture of the month when Juve drew at home with Fiorentina.

It was November and Milan were already in trouble, last in the company of Torino and Como.

Juventus were eliminated in the second round of the European Cup, beaten by Anderlecht 4-2 on aggregate. Even Roma were eliminated in the Cup Winners Cup not being able to overcome the 2-0 defeat in the first leg. Inter also were out of Europe after being defeated 3-2 after extra time in the UEFA Cup by Dinamo Bucharest.

In the first leg of the Coppa Italia quarter finals Napoli won away with Catanzaro, Torino and Fiorentina drew 0-0, Roma beat Inter 4-1 and Reggiana won at home 1-0 against Sampdoria.

Juventus 15, Inter 15, Roma 14, Fiorentina 13, Napoli 11, Avellino 10, Ascoli 9, Catanzaro 9, Cagliari 9, Genoa 9, Udinese 9, Bologna 8, Cesena 8, Torino 7, Milan 7, Como 7

December

In fixture 11 both Juventus and Inter lost and were now joined at the top by Fiorentina who exploited the draw in the last game of the year between the two and by beating Napoli took the solitary lead. Roma however were a point behind with a game in hand.

The semifinalists of the Coppa Italia would be: Catanzaro, after having won 2-1 away with Napoli, Torino (1-1 in Florence), Inter who defeated Roma 3-0 and Sampdoria who won on penalties against Reggiana.

Fiorentina 17, Juventus 16, Roma 16*, Inter 16, Napoli 13, Avellino 13, Ascoli 12, Udinese 12, Catanzaro 11*, Cagliari 11, Genoa 11, Cesena 10, Bologna 9, Torino 8, Milan 8, Como 7

* one game in hand

January

Fiorentina beat Inter 4-2 in the first game of the year and consolidated their lead. Roma lost twice in Campania and at home to Cesena losing ground with the top. Behind Milan still in trouble.

Fiorentina 25, Juventus 24, Inter 22, Roma 20, Napoli 20, Avellino 18, Catanzaro 17, Ascoli 16, Torino 16, Genoa 16, Udinese 15, Cagliari 14, Bologna 14, Cesena 14, Milan 12, Como 9

February

Fiorentina were held to a draw at Ascoli and Juventus winning in Como joined them at the top with Roma and Inter four points behind. Milan looked as if they were catching up.

In the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals, Sampdoria and Inter beat Torino and Catanzaro both 2-1 at home.

Juventus 30, Fiorentina 30, Roma 26, Inter 26, Napoli 24, Ascoli 20, Avellino 20, Catanzaro 19, Torino 18, Genoa 17, Udinese 17, Cesena 17, Cagliari 16, Bologna 16, Milan 15, Como 9

March

The derbies were won by Inter and Juventus with Fiorentina beating Roma. The Bianconeri went +1 over the Viola thanks to a 3-0 away win in Rome and a Fiorentina draw with Torino.  Milan three points away from safety after losing at home with Catanzaro, away at Como and drawing with Ascoli.

The Coppa Italia final would be between Inter and Torino. The Nerazzurri lost 3-2 at Catanzaro after extra time but went through on away goals, Torino won 1-0 against Sampdoria and also qualified thanks to their goal in Genoa.

Juventus 37, Fiorentina 36, Inter 30, Napoli 29, Roma 28, Ascoli 26, Avellino 25, Catanzaro 24, Udinese 21, Bologna 21, Cesena 21, Torino 20, Cagliari 19, Genoa 19, Milan 16, Como 12

April

In the 26th fixture Juventus were held to a draw at home by Ascoli and Fiorentina joined them at the top after beating Bologna. They then went on to beat Inter and Napoli. Behind, Milan were one point away from safety with three games left.

Juventus 41, Fiorentina 41, Roma 33, Napoli 32, Inter 32, Ascoli 30, Catanzaro 28, Avellino 26, Udinese 26, Cesena 25, Torino 23, Cagliari 21, Bologna 21, Genoa 20, Milan 20, Como 13

May

In the 27th fixture Juventus were back in the solitary lead thanks to a 5-1 win at Udine and Fiorentina drawing in Milan against Inter. The Bianconeri were however unable to consolidate after a goalless draw at home with Napoli and the Viola crushed Udinese. So with 90 minutes left they were tied. In the last game, Fiorentina drew at Cagliari (with a Ciccio Graziani goal disallowed for a dubious foul) and Juventus won at Catanzaro thanks to a penalty scored by Liam Brady. Scudetto to Juve.

In the fight to avoid relegation, with one game left, the table read: Cagliari & Genoa 24, Bologna 23, Milan 22. Two places left as Como was miles behind. Last matches: Cagliari-Fiorentina, Napoli-Genoa, Cesena-Milan and Ascoli-Bologna. After the first half Cagliari-Fiorentina was 0-0, Genoa and Bologna were winning, the Rossoneri losing. But everything changed in the second half. Bologna lost the game and were relegated. Milan went 2-0 under but turned the match around and won 3-2. Genoa went under at Naples but managed to equalise in the 85th minute. Milan were relegated.

Juventus would participate in the European Cup, Fiorentina, Roma and Napoli in the UEFA Cup.

In the Coppa Italia final Inter beat Torino 1-0 in the first leg and drew 1-1 in the second winning the trophy and would now play in the Cup Winners Cup.

Roberto Pruzzo (Roma) was top scorer with 15 goals. Verona, Pisa and Sampdoria were promoted to Serie B.

Final Table: Juventus 46, Fiorentina 45, Roma 38, Napoli 35, Inter 35, Ascoli 32, Catanzaro 28, Avellino 27, Torino 27, Cesena 27, Udinese 26, Cagliari 25, Genoa 25, Milan 24, Bologna 23, Como 17