Campioni: History hails Inter
Sunday 22 April, 2007
This Inter side will go down in history after setting several new Serie A
records – and the best run of victories ever in European League competition.
The season is not over yet and although the mythic quota of 100 points cannot
be achieved in the five remaining rounds, Roberto Mancini’s men will
certainly be remembered.
From October 25, 2006 to February 25, 2007 they notched up a record 17
consecutive Serie A wins. Not only was this a new best for Italian football,
it was the greatest run of results in European League history.
It began with a 4-1 result against Livorno at San Siro and was concluded four
months later in the 5-2 win over Catania on neutral turf in Cesena.
The team that had started the run also ended it, as Udinese twice held the
Beneamata to a draw this season.
Inter went unbeaten for the opening 31 rounds – the third best run of all
time in Serie A. Milan remained unbeaten throughout the 1991-92 campaign,
while Fiorentina held out until Week 33 in 1955-56.
However, this is a new record for a 20-team Serie A, as Juventus had only
managed 28 rounds in 2005-06.
If we consider last season as well, then the Nerazzurri went unbeaten for 33
consecutive games after the 1-0 loss at Empoli on April 30, 2006 decided by a
Marco Materazzi own goal. That cavalcade of 25 wins and eight draws was ended
by Wednesday’s 3-1 home defeat to Roma almost exactly a year later.
In all competitions, they had not lost in 39 matches, since the 2-0 Champions
League setback to Bayern Munich on September 27, followed by 30 wins and nine
draws.
By Week 30 Inter had the highest points per game average in Serie A history,
picking up 79 of the 87 available points – 91 per cent.
Mancio’s men also set a new Italian top flight record with 11 consecutive
away victories achieved between October 28, 2006 – the Milan derby – and
March 18, 2007 at Ascoli.
By winning the title with five games to spare, they match the record set by
Torino in the 1947/48 season and Fiorentina in 1955/56.
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