The dawn of a new century ushered in the final season of channel four’s much loved coverage of Serie A, a talented AS Roma side book marked England’s love affair with Italy by capturing their first Scudetto in 28 years.
A wonderfully fluid team, the Giallorossi side of the 2000-2001 season will go down as one of the most memorable in recent times. Governed by Fabio Capello, his roman adventure took just two years to reach it’s climax, after joining the club in 1999. Adding to an already able side in the shape of Gabriel Batistuta, Emerson and Walter Samuel, bringing the Italian’s spending to £50m.
The shrewd coach deployed a slight variation of the much criticised 3-5-2 formation, with Francesco Totti playing behind two strikers. The width came in the shape of a rampaging Cafu down the right and the brilliant Vincent Candela on the left. The back three consisted of two robust markers, Walter Samuel and Jonathon Zebina with Aldair sweeping up behind them as the libero. The tenacious holding midfielders were Cristiano Zanetti/Emerson and Damiano Tommasi. Allowing Rome’s own prodigal son, Francesco Totti to fully flourish as the sides creator in chief. Totti captained the side at just 24 years of age and provided the ammunition for the lethal duo of Batistuta and Montella.
After an extended summer break due to the Olympic games, the championship eventually got underway on the 1st of October. The season started promisingly for I Lupi winning their opening three games, the potent attacking trident of Totti, Montella and Batistuita were effortlessly combining to devastating effect. The sides first defeat of the season came away to Inter in week 4, losing to goals by Hakan Sukur and Alvaro Recoba.
Roma bounced back admirably, only suffering defeat 11 games later on the 24th of January, going down 3-2 to AC Milan. That impressive unbeaten run contained a vital 1-0 win over their bitter rivals Lazio in the Derby della Capitale. Capello’s Roma went into the winter break six points ahead of nearest challengers Juventus after 0-0 stalemate with the Bianconeri at the Stadio Olimpico on December the 23rd.
Defending champions Lazio put up a valiant fight to retain their title, charging back after the winter break to put themselves in contention once more. Roma played some sumptuous football over the course of the season, finishing highest scorers in the league. A thrilling 3-2 victory over Inter Milan in Rome on the 4th March was a particular highlight. The irrepressible Montella bagged a hat-trick of headers to defeat a battling Nerazzurri side, not since the days of Bruno Conte and Falcao had their been such vigour and excitement surrounding Roma.
On the 1st of April, a Roma side brimming with attacking brilliance looked firm favourites for the Scudetto, holding a 9 point lead over Juventus. All the optimism surrounding the side looked to have been misplaced, as they lost to Fiorentina and were held at home to Perugia. Easter in the house of a Romanista would have been a tense affair, after seemingly coasting towards their first Scudetto in 28 years, cracks were beginning to manifest themselves.
A 3-1 triumph against a Udinese set Capello’s gladiators back on track, however, on the horizon were the dark clouds of Juventus and Lazio, their two closest challengers. Two thrilling 2-2 draws kept them at arm’s length as they went into the last five games of the season. Many felt the title was won against Juventus, everything was building perfectly to that night in Turin, it was the unofficial Scudetto showdown.
Juventus went 2-0 up in the first half, it took Roma till the last minute to snatch a Vincenzo Montella equaliser after a rasping shot 25 yard drive from Hidetoshi Nakata 10 minutes earlier put them one behind. For a side who had been leading for the majority of the season this was the result that silenced the doubters.
As the season ebbed to it’s inevitable conclusion Roma marched imperiously on. The potentially tricky tie away at AC Milan ended in a draw, meaning that a home victory against a relegation stricken Napoli the following week, would pry the Scudetto out of the hands of their fiercest rivals. However, the Partenopei failed to read the script, fighting a very different battle to their Roman counterparts, they secured a draw at the San Paolo.
This proved to be the final twist in a dramatic season, the following week, on the 17th of June, Roma were victorious in a 3-1 win over a talented Parma side, with the goals rather fittingly coming from the spearhead that had served them so well all season, Totti, Montella and Batistuta. Batigol’s decision to leave his beloved Viola had been vindicated as he landed the Scudetto in his first season in Rome, scoring 20 goals in the process. For the first time in the history of Serie A the title had stayed in the capital for successive seasons.
To put things into some perspective, between 1992 and 1999 the race for the Scudetto had been a battle between Italy two most successful clubs, Juventus and AC Milan. The two heavyweights went toe to toe, unceremoniously slugging it out till one floored the other. Seemingly spurred on by the success of Lazio’s title triumph, Roma fearlessly swaggered their way to the Scudetto crown, leaving a long trail of admiring glances.
Follow Enzo on Twitter: @Enz_88
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Great article, Enzo. Aaahh the glory days!!!
Some great goals as well… I remember watching that Bat-i-goal against Parma as well… amazing
Wonderful stuff. Well done ‘Forza’.