TheCable

Juventus FC won the Italian Serie A for the fifth straight time on Monday – despite not kicking a ball on the day – after Roma defeated Napoli courtesy of a late-minute Radja Nainggolan goal.

The scoreline left Juve with 85 points and an unassailable 12-point lead at the top, with only nine more points to play for.

Maurizio Sarri’s side needed all three points at Olimpico in order to stop Juventus, who beat Fiorentina 2-1 on Sunday, from mathematically confirming their league win.

However, Nainggolan struck late in the game, in the 89th minute, to secure a 1-0 win for the Giallorossi and edge them closer to leapfrogging their second-placed opponents.

The two teams are battling it out for an automatic Champions League place next season, as the third-placed team will have to settle for only a play-off spot.

Roma’s win took them to within two points of the runners-up spot, with three games to go.

The defeat ends Napoli’s hopes of securing their first Scudetto since 1990, with Juve recovering from a poor start to the season to overtake their nearest rivals after winning an astonishing 24 out of their last 25 Serie A matches.

Juventus have the opportunity to complete another domestic double when they meet AC Milan in the final of the Coppa Italia n May.