What happened in Serie A 1948-49

The previous season had seen Torino destroy all opposition and win the scudetto with a 16-point lead over Milan, Juventus and Triestina. Despite Milan leading after the first half of the season, Torino then raced off alone and dominated. They only used 15 players all season, had the best defence and scored an amazing 125 goals.

They were obviously the hot favourites for the 1948-49 scudetto too. In the summer transfer window, the other teams tried to close the gap with Juventus signing John Hansen while Milan in January got Gunnar Nordhal. The Swedes had been protagonists in the London Olympic games winning the gold medal.

In the previous season the number of teams in Serie A were 21, but this year there were 20 teams.

September

Early stages but a surprise defeat in Bergamo for Torino despite being 2-1 up at half time. To note was a 7-1 Genoa win over Padova and a Juve hammering of Lazio 4-0 in Rome.

Palermo 4, Inter 4, Lucchese 4, Juventus 4, Roma 4, Genoa 3, Bologna 2, Milan 2, Torino 2, Livorno 2, Sampdoria 2, Atalanta 2, Padova 2, Novara 2, Modena 1, Triestina 0, Fiorentina 0, Bari 0, Pro Patria 0, Lazio 0

October

Torino now much better and were first with a point lead over surprise Lucchese. Inter won the derby “away” whereas the Rome intercity clash ended in a draw and Sampdoria humiliated Genoa 5-1. Torino won their derby. Spectacular 4-4 between Sampdoria and Pro Patria.

Torino 12, Lucchese 11, Inter 10, Milan 9, Palermo 9, Roma 9, Juventus 8, Genoa 8, Padova 8, Sampdoria 7, Bologna 7, Fiorentina 7, Novara 7, Triestina 5, Atalanta 5, Pro Patria 5, Modena 4, Livorno 3, Lazio 3, Bari 3

November

Inter won in Turin against Juventus and with Torino losing in Milan, the Nerazzurri and Lucchese joined the Granata at the top. Mid-month the Tuscans took a solitary lead which they still kept entering December. Spectacular 8-2 Lazio win vs Bologna.

Lucchese 19, Torino 18, Inter 17, Genoa 15, Milan 15, Sampdoria 14, Roma 14, Fiorentina 14, Palermo 13, Padova 13, Juventus 11, Triestina 11, Bologna 11, Pro Patria 10, Modena 10, Novara 9, Atalanta 8, Lazio 7, Livorno 6, Bari 5

December

Lucchese’s ride at the top ended in game 13 when they collapsed 5-0 against Sampdoria and Torino won in Modena. In game 17 Torino lost 3-0 to Genoa who momentarily took the lead although the Granata had a game in hand. Once they beat Bari at home, a match that had been suspended due to fog, Torino went top again.

Torino 25, Genoa 24, Inter 22*, Sampdoria 22, Lucchese 22, Milan 20, Roma 18, Fiorentina 18, Triestina 17, Juventus 17, Palermo 17, Bologna 17, Padova 16*, Pro Patria 14, Modena 14, Livorno 13, Lazio 11, Novara 11, Atalanta 10, Bari 10

* one game in hand

January

Torino pulled away and now had a six-point lead. Some spectacular matches with lots of goals on January 6 as Juventus beat Padova 6-1 and Inter smashed Fiorentina 7-1. Genoa, also due to a loss in Turin against Juve, had been caught up by Inter and Sampdoria.

Torino 36, Inter 30, Genoa 30, Sampdoria 30, Milan 29, Triestina 28, Lucchese 27, Juventus 24*, Palermo 24, Bologna 23, Fiorentina 23, Padova 22, Roma 21, Modena 18, Bari 17, Pro Patria 16, Lazio 16, Atalanta 15, Livorno 15, Novara 14*

* one game in hand

February

The three derbies of match day 24 all ended in draws: the Rome and Genoa ones were goalless but the Milan derby ended in a spectacular 4-4. A week later Torino beat Juventus 3-1. Inter managed to reduce the lead to five points after the Granata were held to another 4-4 draw at Padua. That same day Juve beat Samp 5-1.

Torino 40, Inter 35, Milan 34, Genoa 33, Sampdoria 32, Lucchese 30, Juventus 29, Bologna 29, Triestina 28, Palermo 26, Padova 25, Fiorentina 25, Roma 23, Lazio 20, Modena 20, Bari 20, Novara 19, Livorno 18, Pro Patria 17, Atalanta 17

March

The five-point gap between Torino and Inter remained. Torino beat Milan and Inter-Juventus finished in a draw. Below there were lots of teams involved in the relegation battle with six clubs within four points of each other.

Torino 45, Inter 40, Milan 38, Genoa 35, Sampdoria 34, Juventus 33, Triestina 32, Bologna 31, Lucchese 30, Palermo 30, Fiorentina 29, Padova 29, Roma 25, Lazio 24, Bari 23, Livorno 22, Modena 21, Novara 21, Pro Patria 19, Atalanta 19

April

Five games to the end of the campionato and Torino with a four-point lead looked like they would win it again. Below Livorno collapsed and were now bottom with Modena. Pro Patria, Atalanta and Novara now had a two-point cushion over the relegation zone.

Torino 51, Inter 47, Milan 44, Genoa 40, Sampdoria 39, Juventus 38, Lucchese 36, Fiorentina 34, Bologna 33, Triestina 33, Palermo 31, Padova 31, Lazio 30, Bari 29, Roma 28, Pro Patria 24, Atalanta 24, Novara 24, Modena 22, Livorno 22

May

On Saturday April 30, Torino played in Milan against Inter. It was the Nerozzurri’s final attempt at reducing the Granata's lead but it ended in a goalless draw. Torino then flew to Lisbon where on May 3 they played a friendly against Benfica. The day after the team flew back home but the weather conditions over Turin were terrible: strong winds, rain, low clouds. The plane smashed into the Superga hill. Nobody survived.

Torino were forced to play the youth team for the remaining four matches. Their opponents, Genoa, Palermo, Sampdoria and Fiorentina, did the same as a sign of respect.

The scudetto race was over. Torino won the last scudetto of the Grande Torino. So, eyes on what was happening in the relegation battle. With one game left, Livorno had a foot and half in Serie B with Modena, Atalanta and Pro Patria fighting to avoid the last slot.

Torino 58, Inter 53, Milan 48, Juventus 44, Sampdoria 41, Genoa 40, Bologna 39, Lucchese 38, Triestina 38, Fiorentina 38, Palermo 36, Padova 34, Lazio 33, Roma 30, Novara 30, Bari 30, Atalanta 29, Pro Patria 28, Modena 27, Livorno 26

June

In the last game of the season Modena were away to Triestina, Pro Patria in Genoa and Atalanta in Livorno. All three teams won so Modena joined Livorno in Serie B. Como and Venezia were promoted to Serie A. Istvan Nyers was top scorer with 26 goals.

Final table: Torino 60, Inter 55, Milan 50, Juventus 44, Sampdoria 41, Bologna 41, Genoa 40, Lucchese 38, Triestina 38, Fiorentina 38, Palermo 36, Padova 36, Lazio 34, Roma 32, Novara 31, Atalanta 31, Pro Patria 30, Bari 30, Modena 29, Livorno 26