How Inter Milan ended a decade of dominance during a pandemic season
In short: In a season defined by unprecedented health protocols and shifting power, Inter Milan reclaimed the Italian throne. While the league grappled with COVID-19 outbreaks and controversial disciplinary rulings, a new champion emerged to break one of football's most formidable winning streaks.
The 2020–21 Serie A season, also known as Serie A TIM, marked the 119th edition of Italy's top-flight football. It was a campaign of significant transition, as Inter Milan secured their 19th league title. This victory was particularly historic because it ended a nine-year period of uninterrupted dominance by Juventus, who finished the season in fourth place, trailing the champions by 13 points.
The season was heavily impacted by the global pandemic. In late September 2020, the club Genoa faced a major crisis when 14 of its players tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the postponement of a match against Torino. Similar tensions arose involving Napoli, where players Piotr Zieliński and Eljif Elmas were unable to travel to Turin after being denied exit permits by local health authorities.
The fallout from the Napoli situation led to a complex legal battle. Initially, the Disciplinary Commission awarded Juventus a 3–0 victory by default and docked Napoli one point for failing to adhere to pandemic protocols. However, after Napoli appealed to the CONI Sports Guarantee Board, these penalties were reversed on 22 December 2020. The originally scheduled match was eventually played on 7 April 2021, more than half a year after its intended date.
While the giants battled for the title, the league saw fresh faces and newcomers. Benevento and Crotone returned to the top tier after two years away, and Spezia joined the competition as the 66th team to ever participate in the Italian top flight, following a playoff victory on 20 August 2020.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2020–21 Serie A
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