Record-breaking Milan top pile

Brazilian recruits
Coach Carlo Ancelotti retained his key players and strengthened his squad with Brazilian FIFA World Cup legend Cafu, veteran Giuseppe Pancaro and young Brazilian Kaká, who despite being only 22, had a fantastic first term at San Siro.

Shevchenko shines
Andriy Shevchenko was Serie A's top scorer with 24 goals, veterans Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta won their seventh league titles, playmaker Andrea Pirlo was the brains of the team, and Jon Dahl Tomasson scored 12 times despite starting most games as substitute.

Roma impress
Milan's success obscured a great campaign by AS Roma. Fabio Capello's men finished with 71 points, a total that in most years would have secured the title. The Giallorossi had the best attack (68 goals scored) and the best defence (19 conceded), Francesco Totti hit a personal-best 20 goals and Antonio Cassano finally seems close to fulfilling his potential.

Juve disappoint
Juventus FC, who had won the previous two titles, finished a disappointing third after shipping 42 goals. Coach Marcello Lippi will leave the club in the summer, but players like Enzo Maresca and Fabrizio Miccoli offer hope for the future.

Inter troubled
FC Internazionale had another troubled campaign culminating in the resignation of president Massimo Moratti and the sacking of coach Héctor Cúper. Alberto Zaccheroni, however, managed to guide the team to a UEFA Champions League qualifying place.

Lazio triumph
Claudio Prandelli's Parma AC and Roberto Mancini's S.S. Lazio ended up in the top six despite financial troubles, and Lazio also won their fourth Coppa Italia, beating Milan in the semi-final and Juventus in the final. Parma unearthed Italian Under-21 striker Alberto Gilardino who started the season as cover for Adriano but scored 23 goals.

Baggio bows out
If Gilardino, Cassano and Kaká were the bright young things of 2003/2004, the campaign also saw old masters Roberto Baggio and Giuseppe Signori bow out of Serie A with 200 and 188 goals respectively.

Spalletti acclaim
Coach Luciano Spalletti earned plaudits by guiding Udinese Calcio into next season's UEFA Cup, and newly-promoted UC Sampdoria went close to a European return but had to settle for eighth place.

Great escapes
AC Siena did well to avoid relegation in their first top-flight campaign, while US Lecce, for whom Ernesto Chevanton scored 19 goals, and Reggina Calcio managed to escape the drop with strong finishes.

Relegation battles
Ancona Calcio were doomed early on, but the relegation battle was still a hard-fought affair. AC Perugia defeated Roma, Juventus and Ancona in their last three games to overtake Modena FC and Empoli FC and secure a spot in the play-offs. Here they will face the team finishing sixth in Serie B as they battle to stay in the top flight which will consist of 20 teams next season.