AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli says his medal was stolen after title win as Granada relegated from La Liga

The Rossoneri got their hands on the Scudetto for the first time since the 2010/11 campaign.

Pa Sport Staff
Sunday 22 May 2022 23:42 BST
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AC Milan won their 19th Serie A title (Michele Nucci/AP/PA)
AC Milan won their 19th Serie A title (Michele Nucci/AP/PA) (AP)

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AC Milan secured their first Serie A title in 11 years – although head coach Stefano Pioli has pleaded for the return of his winner’s medal after claiming it was stolen amid the presentation ceremony.

The Rossoneri got their hands on the Scudetto for the first time since the 2010/11 campaign courtesy of a 3-0 win at Sassuolo, with Olivier Giroud bagging a brace and Franck Kessie also on the scoresheet.

Pioli was the figurehead behind Milan’s 19th top-flight title, with his former side Inter settling for second despite their own 3-0 win over Sampdoria, although the 56-year-old had a sour end to the day.

Stefano Pioli said his Serie A winner’s medal was stolen (Spada/AP/PA)
Stefano Pioli said his Serie A winner’s medal was stolen (Spada/AP/PA) (AP)

“They snatched my medal in the celebrations: if you can make an appeal I thank you, it is the only one I have,” said Pioli, according to La Repubblica.

Ivan Perisic opened the scoring at San Siro for Inter while Joaquin Correa struck twice more, wrapping up a three-goal second-half blitz in eight minutes, but it was insufficient as they stayed two points behind Pioli’s side.

Matteo Politano, Piotr Zielinski and Diego Demme all scored in the first half as Napoli rounded off a season in which they finished third – nine points ahead of fourth-placed Juventus – with a 3-0 win at Spezia.

At the other end of the table, Cagliari’s six-year stay in the division was ended after a goalless draw at Venezia, who finish rock-bottom, meaning Salernitana stay up by a point despite a 4-0 trouncing at home to Udinese.

Gerard Deulofeu, Ilija Nestorovski, Destiny Udogie and Roberto Pereyra struck for Udinese.

Barcelona lost their final match of the season (Joan Mateu Parra/AP/PA)
Barcelona lost their final match of the season (Joan Mateu Parra/AP/PA) (AP)

Runners-up Barcelona finished their LaLiga campaign 13 points behind champions Real Madrid after a 2-0 defeat at home against Villarreal, who booked a place in the Europa Conference League next season.

Alfonso Pedraza and Moi Gomez scored either side of half-time for Villarreal while Frenkie de Jong saw a header disallowed for offside as Barca finished on 73 points – their lowest total for 14 years.

Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Correa were on-target as Atletico Madrid made sure of third place with a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad, who claimed a late consolation through substitute Jon Guridi.

Sevilla have the fourth and final Champions League spot as they won 1-0 against Athletic Bilbao courtesy of Rafa Mir’s goal. Bilbao missed out on European football for next season.

Granada finished in the bottom three after a goalless draw against Espanyol. The result led to Granada being leapfrogged by Cadiz, who won 1-0 at Alaves thanks to Anthony Lozano’s goal inside the final quarter of an hour.

Angel Rodriguez and Clement Grenier scored as Mallorca won 2-0 at Osasuna while Elche claimed a 3-1 win over Getafe following a late brace from Kike Perez. Enes Unal had opened the scoring for Getafe but Lucas Olaza soon levelled.

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