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Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007
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Inter crowned champion

TRIUMPHANT: Marco Materazzi exults after his goals gave Inter Milan the `Scudetto' on Sunday. — PHOTO: AFP

Milan: Inter Milan won its 15th Serie A title on Sunday after beating Siena 2-1.

Marco Materazzi scored two goals to help Inter move 16 points clear of second-place AS Roma, which lost at Atalanta 2-1.

Materazzi scored from close range in the 18th minute and converted a penalty in the 60th. Paolo Negro headed in Siena's goal in the 21st.

"The team has had an extraordinary season," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. "To win five games from the end is a fantastic achievement. I am delighted for all Inter fans."

Mancini also announced that he had agreed to a four-year contract extension through 2011, with an option for another year.

The triumph matched Torino (1948) and Fiorentina (1956) for the league record of wrapping up the title with five games remaining and was only the third time Inter had won consecutive championships.

The Milan team also won back-to-back titles in 1953-54 and 1965-66 — although last year's trophy was awarded by default following the Italian match-fixing scandal.

Superb display

David James broke the record for Premiership clean-sheets with a superb display that helped Portsmouth earn a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa.

Portsmouth keeper James now has 142 Premiership clean-sheets, one ahead of David Seaman's previous record, but he had to work hard to remain unbeaten. Robert Pires' and Marcos Garcia's goals gave Villarreal a 2-0 win over FC Barcelona and cut the defending champion's lead in the Spanish league to one point.

Barcelona's defeat at El Madrigal stadium left it with just one win from its past nine away games and dented its hopes of a third straight title.

The results: Italian Serie A: Inter Milan 2 (Materazzi-pen 2) bt Siena 1 (Negro); Atalanta 2 (Doni, Zampagna) bt Roma 1 (Perrotta); Chievo 2 (Pellissier, Bogdani) bt Livorno 1 (Lucarelli); Empoli 0 drew with Torino 0; Lazio 0 lost to Fiorentina 1 (Mutu); Reggina 1 (Amoruso-pen) drew with Udinese 1 (Muntari).

English Premier League: Aston Villa 0 drew with Portsmouth 0.

Spanish La Liga: Villarreal 2 (Pires, Marcos) bt Barcelona 0; Deportivo 1 (Lopo) bt Osasuna 0; Espanyol 2 (Riera, Tamudo-pen) drew with Real Betis 2 (Edu 2); Levante 1 (Mustapha) drew with Getafe 1 (Belenguer); Mallorca 1 (Casadesus) bt Gimnastic 0; Real Zaragoza 2 (Ewerthon 2) bt Celta Vigo 0; Recreativo 4 (Uche, Amo, Cazorla, Rosu) bt Racing Santander 2 (Colsa, Zigic); Sevilla 4 (Kerzhakov, Puerta, Chevanton, Fabiano) bt Athletic Bilbao 1 (Yeste). — Agencies

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