The 1997-98 Scudetto race successfully got here down to 1 recreation in Turin on 26 April 1998 between Juventus and Inter.
The hosts triumphed 1-0 due to a purpose from Alessandro Del Piero however that was not even half the story. Ronaldo had been denied what many felt was a transparent penalty when he was body-checked within the space by Mark Iuliano, sparking a debate that also rages at the moment.
Nonetheless, placing the controversy to 1 aspect for a second, Juve have been undeniably a wonderful staff; arguably the very best on the planet on the time.
Whereas Del Piero and new putting sensation Filippo Inzaghi by no means noticed eye to eye, they nonetheless shaped a formidable partnership up entrance, helped in no small half by the genius of Zinedine Zidane in midfield. Captain Antonio Conte and Didier Deschamps acquired by means of an unbelievable quantity of labor within the engine room, whereas Ciro Ferrara was the cornerstone of a superb and typically brutal backline.
In reality, they need to even have conquered Europe however they have been upset by a weak Actual Madrid within the Champions League remaining. Nonetheless, beating nice rivals Inter to the Scudetto supplied some solace, not least as a result of the style of their triumph damage the Nerazzurri so badly.
CHANGES
The story of the summer season was Inter‘s record-breaking acquisition of Ronaldo from Barcelona for €28 million. Nonetheless, there have been a number of different notable arrivals, chief amongst them Ajax starlet Patrick Kluivert, who joined AC Milan two years after scoring the purpose that defeated the Rossoneri within the Champions League remaining.
Elsewhere, Roberto Baggio was a participant reborn after leaving Milan for Bologna, whereas the aforementioned Inzaghi maintained his spectacular goalscoring kind after becoming a member of Juve from Atalanta.
When it comes to adjustments on the bench, Milan desperately turned to former coach Fabio Capello within the hope of bouncing again from a depressing 1996-97 marketing campaign however he was sacked after a dismal Tenth-placed end.
Lazio pulled off a significant coup by persuading Blackburn Rovers goal Sven-Goran Eriksson to maneuver to the Stadio Olimpico somewhat than Ewood Park, whereas Zdenek Zeman reinvigorated Roma along with his scintillating model of attacking soccer.
SEASON SUMMARY
The opening weekend was all about Ronaldo’s debut for Inter at San Siro, in opposition to Brescia, however the Brazil striker was utterly upstaged by a comparatively unknown summer season signing, Alvaro Recoba, who got here off the bench to win the sport for the hosts with two sensational strikes.
Nonetheless, Ronaldo opened his account in his very subsequent outing, away to Bologna, and would rapidly earn the nickname ‘Il Fenomeno’ from an adoring Italian press, as he carried Inter‘s bid for a primary Scudetto since 1989.
Certainly, the Nerazzurri made the early working, going undefeated till a heartbreaking 1-0 loss at Udinese in December, with Oliver Bierhoff scoring an injury-time winner for the house aspect.
The German striker would finish the season as Serie A‘s high scorer, along with his 27 objectives taking part in a pivotal position in Alberto Zaccheroni’s high quality aspect qualifying for the UEFA Cup through third-placed end.
Parma have been a giant disappointment and Carlo Ancelotti paid along with his job on the finish of the season however that was nothing in comparison with Napoli, who have been relegated to Serie B, the just about inevitable results of years of economic mismanagement.
Nonetheless, it was celebrity duo Ronaldo and Del Piero who dominated the headlines all through the season. Their first showdown went in favour of the South American, who teed up Youri Djorkaeff for the one purpose of their January 4 assembly at San Siro.
That victory gave Inter a four-point benefit over their title rivals however they might lose 4 of their subsequent 10 video games, that means that despite a six-game profitable streak throughout March and April, they trailed Juve by a degree going into their ‘title-decider’ in Turin.
Del Piero’s opener halfway by means of the primary half, thus, left the Nerazzurri in main hassle. Nonetheless, within the 67th minute, the ball broke for Ronaldo within the space and he took a contact earlier than being felled by Iuliano.
Referee Pietro Ceccarini waved away Inter‘s protests, believing that the Inter attacker had initiated the contact, however then, seconds later, he awarded Juve a spot-kick after Del Piero had tangled with Taribo West within the Inter space.
Del Piero missed the penalty however Inter have been livid. Certainly, Inter coach Gigi Simoni stays satisfied that the Nerazzurri had been the sufferer of a conspiracy, a perception solely strengthened by Juve’s later involvement within the 2006 Calciopoli refereeing scandal.
The Bianconeri went on to win the Scudetto by 5 factors however, for many observers, the penalty incident determined the league, even frightening heated exchanges within the Italian parliament.
AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
RONALDO
The Brazilian striker was totally spellbinding, a participant on the very peak of his distinctive powers earlier than being damaged down by accidents later in his profession.
MANAGER OF THE SEASON
MARCELLO LIPPI
The Juve coach picked up the award for the second yr in a row after efficiently retaining the Scudetto, to not point out main the Outdated Woman out in a 3rd consecutive Champions League remaining.
TOP GOALSCORER
OLIVER BIERHOFF – 27 GOALS
There was no stopping the German striker, who struck a staggering 27 occasions in simply 32 appearances.
GOAL OF THE SEASON
There have been some spectacular strikes from Gabriel Batistuta and Alvaro Recoba however our favorite purpose was ALEN BOKSIC’S chic chip on matchday eight, which got here after the Lazio striker had deftly crushed two Sampdoria gamers in midfield.
MOST EXPENSIVE TRANSFER
Ronaldo
Barcelona to Inter
€28m
KEY MOMENT OF THE SEASON
It may possibly’t be something aside from Ceccarini’s penalty name, which is, rightly or wrongly, considered probably the most notorious choices in Serie A historical past. As Simoni not too long ago stated, VAR may have made a distinction however “it will by no means return that Scudetto.”
