Lazio lift title as Juve lose

Lazio’s Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson was more circumspect, true to the dour image that has earned him the nicknames “The Man of Ice” and “The Rector of Torsby”.

Cragnotti paid tribute to Eriksson, saying: “The merit for the League title is all down to him.”

The match between Juventus and Perugia was halted for more than an hour due to rain, which left Lazio fans and players in agony as they waited for the result, as a Juventus equaliser would mean a two-legged play-off for the title.

Follicly-challenged referee Pierluigi Collina also allowed Juve six minutes of injury-time but they could not find an opening.

The final whistle at Perugia was greeted with loud cheers at Lazio’s Stadio Olimpico.

Tourist haunts like Circo Massimo and Piazza Spagna were invaded by thousands of fans and in some places they had skirmishes with police.

Elsewhere, AC Milan beat Udinese 4-0 at San Siro to finish third and get into preliminary rounds of the European Champions League.

In Spain Deportivo la Coruna go into next weekend’s final round of fixtures. A draw in the home match with Espanyol can help them lift their first Primera Liga title.

With defending champions Barcelona held 0-0 by Real Sociedad, Deportivo would have been crowned champions on Sunday if they had won but were held 0-0 by Santander. Next week’s fixtures throw up an intriguing double header between Catalunya and Galicia.

Barca host Deportivo’s local rivals Celta Vigo while Deportivo meet Barca’s city rivals Espanyol.

Real Madrid’s Nicolas Anelka confirmed his return to form with the second in the 2-0 win against Real Betis. Seville-based Betis, with Brazilian Denilson — world’s most expensive signing when he joined them — join neighbours Sevilla and once-mighty Atletico Madrid in Division Two.