What happened in Serie A 1952-53

The previous scudetto had been won by Juventus with a seven-point lead over Milan. Inter had arrived third ahead of Fiorentina and Lazio. The Bianconeri had a four-point lead over the Rossoneri by halfway and maintained the advantage throughout the season.

In the 1952 summer transfer window Inter had signed keeper Giorgio Ghezzi and Napoli bought Hasse Jeppson from Atalanta with a massive investment. This campionato would be the first with 18 teams since 1933-34.

Juventus were obvious favourites, but Inter and Napoli looked as if they would also have a chance.

September

Milan and newly promoted Roma raced ahead followed by Inter. Juventus lost at home to Bologna but then went on to win 5-1 away at Bergamo.

Milan 6, Roma 6, Inter 5, Napoli 5, Bologna 4, Udinese 4, Juventus 3, Como 3, Torino 3, Lazio 3, Fiorentina 3, Pro Patria 2, Spal 2, Sampdoria 2, Triestina 1, Novara 1, Palermo 1, Atalanta 0

October

Roma beat Milan and took the lead followed by Juve and the Rossoneri. Strong start by the Giallorossi.

Roma 11, Inter 10, Juventus 9, Milan 9, Lazio 7, Napoli 7, Bologna 6, Torino 6, Fiorentina 6, Pro Patria 5, Spal 5, Udinese 5, Triestina 4, Como 4, Novara 4, Atalanta 4, Palermo 3, Sampdoria 3

November

Roma had two consecutive draws then lost the derby so fell back considerably. Inter beat Milan and won every game in November reaching first place followed by Juventus.

Inter 20, Juventus 18, Milan 15, Roma 15, Bologna 14, Lazio 14, Fiorentina 11, Napoli 10, Atalanta 10, Torino 9, Udinese 9, Triestina 8, Pro Patria 8, Como 8, Palermo 8, Spal 7, Novara 7, Sampdoria 7

December

The gap between first and second increased to three points as Juventus lost at home to Milan. Inter and Lazio drew, the Biancocelesti now fifth one point behind Roma. Below, the fight to avoid relegation was open with more than half of the Serie A teams involved.

Inter 24, Juventus 21, Milan 21, Roma 18, Lazio 17, Bologna 16, Napoli 15, Udinese 14, Triestina 13, Pro Patria 12, Atalanta 12, Fiorentina 12, Torino 11, Sampdoria 10, Palermo 10, Spal 9, Novara 9, Como 8

January

Inter now led by 7 points since they won all their January matches and Juventus lost two. In the big game between first and second, Inter beat Juve 2-0.

Inter 32, Juventus 25, Milan 24, Roma 23, Lazio 22, Bologna 21, Napoli 20, Triestina 18, Atalanta 17, Pro Patria 16, Udinese 16, Torino 15, Spal 14, Fiorentina 14, Sampdoria 13, Palermo 12, Novara 12, Como 10

February

The gap grew by another two points and the scudetto was by now in Inter's hands. At the beginning of the month Juve lost at Bologna and Milan thrashed Palermo overtaking them for the second place. To note is an 8-0 massacre of Fiorentina by the Bianconeri. Below Como were in deep trouble and a long way away from safety.

Inter 38, Milan 29, Juventus 28, Roma 27, Bologna 25, Napoli 25, Lazio 24, Triestina 22, Udinese 21, Atalanta 20, Fiorentina 20, Pro Patria 19, Torino 18, Spal 17, Sampdoria 17, Novara 17, Palermo 16, Como 13

March

In the five March games Inter drew three, including the derby, and lost two, allowing Milan to reduce the gap to five points. Lazio won their away derby. Below, with seven matches still to play and with Como almost in Serie B, seven teams were in the battle to avoid relegation. Anything could still happen.

Inter 41, Milan 36, Juventus 35, Bologna 32, Napoli 31, Roma 30, Atalanta 26, Lazio 26, Udinese 26, Fiorentina 26, Triestina 24, Torino 23, Palermo 23, Spal 22, Pro Patria 22, Sampdoria 22, Novara 22, Como 19

April

Juve beat Milan away and moved up to second with Inter still five points in the lead. Below, Como won twice, including against Milan, and were now in full contention to avoid Serie B, battling it out with Novara and Pro Patria. The others looked safe.

Inter 45, Juventus 40, Milan 37, Napoli 37, Bologna 34, Roma 32, Lazio 30, Fiorentina 29, Palermo 28, Udinese 28, Atalanta 27, Triestina 27, Spal 26, Torino 26, Sampdoria 26, Novara 23, Como 23, Pro Patria 22

May

Inter won the scudetto with three games to spare. They beat Palermo whilst Juve lost against Roma. Then the Nerazzurri lost their last three games so Juve consolidated their second place. In the relegation battle, with one match to the end Triestina had a one-point lead over Como. With Pro Patria already relegated, it was going to be one of these two teams to join the Lombards. But Como lost to Fiorentina in the final game and for them it was all over.

Top scorer was Gunnar Nordhal (Milan) with 26 goals.

Coming up from Serie B were Genoa and Legnano who won a play-off against Catania.

Final table: Inter 47, Juventus 45, Milan 43, Napoli 41, Bologna 39, Roma 36, Fiorentina 33, Spal 32, Atalanta 32, Torino 31, Lazio 31, Sampdoria 31, Novara 31, Udinese 31, Triestina 30, Palermo 30, Como 27, Pro Patria 22