Another season and another domestic double for Massimilano Allegri's Juventus but this was the closest run Scudetto race that the Old Lady has encountered since the very first of the now seven consecutive titles.
Napoli topped Serie A for most of the season right up until March but Juve once again displayed their relentless staying power, keeping up with the Maurizio Sarri's men every week and eventually surging past them.
The turning point in the season perhaps came in Gameweek 27 when the Bianconeri snatched a stoppage-time winner at Stadio Olimpico with their only shot on target after a poor overall performance against Lazio. Just a couple of hours later, Napoli surrendered a lead to lose 4-2 at home to Roma and the Partenopei never regained leadership of Serie A.
The key men for Juventus were the players who've been there and done it before. Many thought an ageing Giorgio Chiellini would struggle after the departure of Leonardo Bonucci but the veteran defender simply grew in stature and was a colossus at the back for the champions. Paulo Dybala remains arguably the biggest talent in Serie A and scored some crucial goals, including that last gasp winner at Lazio, but he needs more consistency to join the world's elite. Miralem Pjanic continued to orchestrate and knit things together from midfield whilst Douglas Costa proved to be the best summer recruit, adding a new dimension to Juve's game with his pace and trickery in wide areas.
There was a poignant end to the season as Gianluigi Buffon bid farewell to the club after 17 years. He had another stellar campaign at 40 years old but was involved in some controversy after being sent-off at the death in Juve's heartbreaking Champions League quarter-final at Real Madrid.
It was another traumatic experience in Europe's premier club competition for Allegri and having conquered Italy four times in a row now, surely that is the biggest target for next season if he is indeed to stay in Turin.
