What Happened in Serie A 1985-86

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The previous season had seen Verona win the Scudetto for the first and, so far, only time in their history. At the halfway point of the season, Verona had a one-point lead over Inter and were two points ahead of Torino. Inter began to lose ground in March and, with six games remaining, Verona had opened up a six-point lead over Juventus, Torino, Sampdoria, Inter and Milan. They held on and secured the Scudetto with one game to spare. Torino finished second and Inter third.

During the transfer window, Serie A said goodbye to Paulo Roberto Falcao, Sócrates and Zico. Verona made no major signings but sold Pietro Fanna and Luciano Marangon to Inter, who also brought in Marco Tardelli from Juventus in exchange for Aldo Serena. Juventus signed Michael Laudrup and Lionello Manfredonia from Lazio. Paolo Rossi moved to Milan, Bruno Giordano joined Napoli, while Roma signed Zibi Boniek.

Verona were the obvious favourites, but Inter and Juventus were also expected to challenge, while Sampdoria and Napoli could potentially emerge as outsiders.

September

Juventus won all four of their opening games, including an impressive victory away to reigning champions Verona. Fiorentina, who had beaten both Sampdoria and Milan, were second alongside the Rossoneri, Napoli and Torino.

In the first leg of the first round of the European Cup, Verona beat PAOK 3-1 at home, while Juventus won 5-0 away to Jeunesse Esch. In the Cup Winners' Cup, Sampdoria drew 1-1 away to AEL. In the UEFA Cup, Milan lost 3-1 away to Auxerre, Inter thrashed St. Gallen 5-1 at home and Torino beat Panathinaikos 2-1 at home.

The Coppa Italia group stage had been played in August and September. Fiorentina, Juventus, Vicenza, Padova, Atalanta, Sampdoria, Inter, Empoli, Pisa, Verona, Udinese, Milan, Torino, Como, Roma and Messina qualified for the round of 16.

Juventus 8, Fiorentina 6, Milan 6, Napoli 6, Torino 6, Inter 5, Roma 5, Udinese 4, Verona 3, Bari 3, Pisa 3, Sampdoria 2, Atalanta 2, Lecce 2, Avellino 2, Como 1

October

Juventus continued their winning run, including victory in the Turin derby. They were followed by Inter and Milan. It was still early in the campaign, but Lecce had already begun to lose ground.

Juventus and Verona both qualified for the second round of the European Cup after Juventus beat Jeunesse Esch 4-1 at home and Verona defeated PAOK 2-1 away. The two Italian sides were drawn against each other in the second round and the first leg in Verona ended 0-0.

In the second leg of the first round of the Cup Winners' Cup, Sampdoria beat AEL 1-0 to qualify for the second round, where they lost the first leg 2-0 to Benfica.

All three Italian teams in the UEFA Cup reached the second round. Milan overturned their first-leg deficit by beating Auxerre 3-0, Inter drew 0-0 away to St. Gallen and Torino drew 1-1 in Athens against Panathinaikos. In the first legs of the second round, Inter lost 1-0 away to LASK, Milan beat Lokomotive Leipzig 2-0 at home and Torino drew 1-1 at home with Hajduk Split.

Juventus 16, Inter 12, Milan 11, Napoli 10, Fiorentina 9, Roma 9, Torino 8, Verona 8, Udinese 7, Sampdoria 6, Atalanta 6, Pisa 6, Bari 6, Avellino 6, Como 5, Lecce 3

November

Juventus finally suffered their first defeat in Naples, courtesy of a wonderful Diego Maradona free-kick, but then beat Roma and drew with Inter, meaning their lead remained substantial. Behind them was a trio consisting of Napoli, Inter and Milan.

Juventus beat Verona 2-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Cup. Sampdoria were eliminated from the Cup Winners' Cup after failing to overturn their first-leg defeat against Benfica.

In the UEFA Cup, Torino were eliminated after losing 3-1 to Hajduk Split. Milan also lost 3-1 to Lokomotive Leipzig but progressed on away goals, while Inter beat HASK 4-0 to go through. In the first legs of the third round, Milan drew away to Waregem and Inter drew 0-0 at home with Legia Warsaw.

Juventus 19, Napoli 14, Inter 14, Milan 14, Fiorentina 13, Torino 13, Roma 13, Atalanta 10, Avellino 10, Verona 10, Sampdoria 9, Udinese 9, Pisa 8, Bari 8, Como 6, Lecce 6

December

Juventus extended their advantage over Napoli to six points. The Milan derby ended in a draw, completing an exceptional first half of the season for the Bianconeri: 12 wins, two draws and just one defeat.

Lecce were already in deep trouble, particularly after losing seven of their eight away games. The battle for the other two relegation places remained wide open, with seven teams separated by just two points. There was still plenty of time for things to change.

Inter qualified for the UEFA Cup quarter-finals after winning 1-0 in extra time away to Legia Warsaw. Milan were eliminated after losing 2-1 at home to Waregem.

Juventus 26, Napoli 20, Inter 18, Roma 18, Fiorentina 17, Milan 17, Torino 16, Verona 16, Sampdoria 13, Udinese 13, Atalanta 13, Avellino 13, Como 12, Pisa 11, Bari 11, Lecce 6

January

Juventus drew their first three games of the new year, but nobody behind them seemed able to take advantage. The Bianconeri still held a five-point lead over Roma. At the other end, Bari, Udinese and Lecce were beginning to fall further behind.

In the first legs of the Coppa Italia round of 16, Como, Empoli, Fiorentina, Roma, Verona, Inter, Sampdoria and Torino all won at home against Juventus, Milan, Udinese, Atalanta, Pisa, Padova, Vicenza and Messina respectively.

Juventus 31, Roma 26, Milan 23, Napoli 22, Torino 22, Inter 20, Fiorentina 19, Sampdoria 18, Verona 18, Pisa 17, Como 17, Atalanta 17, Avellino 17, Bari 14, Udinese 13, Lecce 10

February

Roma closed the gap as Juventus continued to slow down. The Bianconeri drew the Turin derby and then at Bergamo, allowing the Giallorossi to move within three points of the leaders. However, Roma then drew in Florence while Juventus won at Bari, restoring the lead to four points.

Como, Empoli, Fiorentina, Roma, Verona, Inter, Sampdoria and Torino qualified for the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, with Como eliminating Juventus and Empoli knocking out Milan.

Juventus 35, Roma 31, Napoli 26, Torino 25, Inter 25, Milan 25, Fiorentina 23, Verona 21, Sampdoria 20, Pisa 20, Atalanta 20, Como 19, Avellino 18, Udinese 17, Bari 15, Lecce 11

March

After the 24th matchday, Roma had fallen five points behind after losing in Verona, while Juventus had drawn with Napoli. But on March 16 came Roma's final great opportunity to close the gap: the Giallorossi hosted Juventus at the Olimpico.

Roma crushed the Bianconeri 3-0 and, with five games remaining, were just three points behind. In the following round Juventus beat Inter while Roma won away to Milan. At the bottom, Bari had slipped three points from safety, although the relegation battle was still far from decided.

Juventus were eliminated from the European Cup in the quarter-finals after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Barcelona. Inter, meanwhile, reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals after eliminating Nantes 6-3 on aggregate.

Juventus 40, Roma 37, Napoli 31, Milan 30, Torino 28, Fiorentina 27, Inter 27, Sampdoria 25, Atalanta 25, Verona 25, Como 23, Avellino 23, Pisa 22, Udinese 21, Bari 19, Lecce 13

April

On the 27th matchday, Juventus lost in Florence while Roma beat Sampdoria to move within one point of the leaders. A week later, the Giallorossi finally caught them after winning in Pisa while Juventus drew with Sampdoria. With two games remaining, the two teams were level on points.

The penultimate round produced Roma-Lecce and Juventus-Milan. Giallorossi supporters were already celebrating, convinced that Roma would make short work of Lecce, who had already been relegated and had lost 13 of their previous 14 away games, drawing the other.

Roma took the lead after only a few minutes and everything seemed to be going according to plan. But Lecce fought back, equalised and then scored twice more. Juventus had gone ahead against Milan, and although Roma tried to respond, it was too late. They lost 3-1.

Juventus now needed only one point away to Lecce in the final game, and they duly won. Roma, seemingly having thrown in the towel, lost at Como. An extraordinary turn of events had decided the title.

The battle for the UEFA Cup places was also fascinating. There were two places available, or three if Roma won the Coppa Italia. Fiorentina, Inter and Torino had 31 points, with Milan on 30. The Rossoneri were held to a draw at home by Atalanta and consequently missed out on European football for the following season.

At the bottom, Bari and Lecce were already relegated. Pisa had 23 points and Udinese 24. In the final games, Pisa hosted Fiorentina while Udinese faced Bari. Pisa lost and Udinese drew, meaning the Tuscans joined Bari and Lecce in Serie B.

Inter also missed out on the UEFA Cup final. After beating Real Madrid 3-1 in Milan, the Nerazzurri collapsed in the return leg, losing 5-1 in Madrid after extra time.

Juventus 45, Roma 41, Napoli 39, Fiorentina 33, Torino 33, Inter 32, Milan 31, Atalanta 29, Como 29, Verona 28, Sampdoria 27, Avellino 27, Udinese 25, Pisa 23, Bari 22, Lecce 16

May

In the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, Fiorentina, Roma, Sampdoria and Como progressed, eliminating Empoli, Inter, Torino and Verona respectively.

Roma then beat Fiorentina 3-1 on aggregate to reach the final, where they would face Sampdoria. The Genoese side reached the final after their semi-final against Como was awarded 2-0 after the referee was struck by an object.

Roma went on to win the Coppa Italia final 3-2 on aggregate.

As a result, Juventus would play in the European Cup the following season, Roma in the Cup Winners' Cup, while Napoli, Fiorentina, Torino and Inter qualified for the UEFA Cup.