Matchday Revisited: Scudetto celebrations in 2001!

The 2000-01 campaign is one that is destined to live long in the memory of AS Roma fans all over the world, with Fabio Capello's men claiming the club's first Scudetto since 1983.

At perhaps the height of Serie A’s quality, it was a star-studded Roma side that saw off all-comers to become champions of Italy for the third time in the club history – with players, a kit and a style of playing that was all destined to become iconic.

Remembered as one of the finest Giallorossi outfits in history, there were so many remarkable highlights from that triumphant crusade.

While obviously the derby win over Lazio holds a special place for Roma fans (and will ensure a special place of his own in club history for Paolo Negro), their impressive victories over Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Parma (twice) and Atalanta were crucial towards their success.

In addition, their inspirational draw with Juventus in the run-in deserves mention, as a sterling comeback sparked by substitute Hidetoshi Nakata saw the side snatch a 2-2 draw in Turin, easing the pressure on the players significantly ahead of the final run-in.

Looking back on this magical team, who were usually organised into a 3-4-1-2 formation, it was the defence that invariably provided a wonderful base.

Three from Walter Samuel, Aldair, Zago and Jonathan Zebina were usually employed in front of goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli, with the marauding Cafu wreaking havoc down the right and Vincent Candela on the left, with that versatile wing-back duo giving Roma so much thrust and class going forward.

Capello certainly wasn't short of options in central midfield, where two from Damiano Tomassi, Cristiano Zanetti and Emerson logged most of the minutes, but were ably supported by the likes of Marcos Assuncao, Gianni Guigou and Eusebio Di Francesco when needed.

It is in the final third, however, that this team remains most remembered by the wider football fan.

Francesco Totti, 25 during the campaign, was granted plentiful freedom to connect and support attacks with his intelligent movement and mastery on the ball. Operating with such elegance and class from his trequartista role, so many of Roma's best work came through the legendary Roman icon.

Thirteen goals and six assists illustrated that impact effectively.

Powerful Argentinian hitman, Gabriel Batistuta, was the team's top scorer with 20 league goals, as his physicality, finishing and presence ensured he was a formidable foe for any opponent. Thousands had arrived at the Olimpico a year prior to welcome ‘Batigol’, believing he would be the striker capable of turning the Giallorossi into title winners.

How right those fans turned out to be.

One of Vincenzo Montella and Marco Delvecchio would invariably partner Batistuta, with both men doing a fine job – especially as they often were asked to drift into the channels to create more width for the team.

But it was Montella who outshone his countryman with many vital goals on his way to bagging 14 in total that campaign.

Racking up 50 goals between them, Capello's front quartet offered so much not only in terms of goalscoring but also in regards to chance creation - something their 17 combined assists signified.

In the end, however, the quality of so many teams in the league ensured that the title went down to the very last day – with Capello’s side aware that a victory would guarantee them glory.

In front of them stood a Parma side that was no slouch itself, including the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Lillian Thuram, Fabio Cannavaro, Matias Almeyda, Marco Di Vaio, Savo Milosevic, Paolo Cannavaro and Diego Fuser in its ranks for that season.

Needing a victory to guarantee they'd claim the Scudetto, with Juventus and Lazio breathing down their neck, this is precisely what Capello's troops did - winning 3-1 on an unforgettable afternoon.

Setting up in their trademark 3-4-1-2, with the trident of Batistuta, Montella and Totti upfront, Tommasi and Emerson in midfield, Cafu and Candela as wing backs, Zago, Samuel and Zebina in central defence and Antonioli in goal, Capello did not overthink his selection for the match.

The fact Delvecchio, Nakata, Di Francesco, Zanetti and Amedeo Mangone were all on the bench gave him some tidy options to call upon.

Defensively sound and operating with authority as they had done all season, Roma's well structured defence handled Parma's dangerous front two of Di Vaio and Milosevic ably. Making sure to get touch-tight whenever an opponent dropped deep or embarked on a run in behind, Samuel, Zago and Zebina executed their responsibilities with clarity.

Keen to apply pressure and ensure life was as difficult as possible, how they gave their foes minimal time on the ball in the final third stifled many an attack.

Having taken an early lead – courtesy of Totti, of course - it was understandable Roma spent large chunks dropping back into a mid block, looking to control spaces by remaining compact and disciplined. They did this effectively for the most part, as Emerson and Tommasi displayed their supreme judgement to step out to win back possession and instigate quick counters.

Competent at reading the play and picking up danger, Roma's domineering defence held firm when crosses were whipped into the box and in aerial duels all over, for their height and anticipation meant Parma struggled to win second balls or generate any promising chances.

Working hard and cohesively without possession to limit the Gialloblu's effectiveness, this served as another testament to Roma's solidity at the back, which saw them only concede 33 goals that term.

Meanwhile, on the offensive end, there was much to admire – as was often the case that season. Playing with verve, dynamism and intelligence, the Giallorossi caused so many issues for the away side.

With Totti leading the way using his licence to roam to exploit gaps within Parma's shape, the Italian international expertly found space between the lines, in the half spaces and when dropping deep into midfield.

When doing the latter, he was able to generate overloads and enjoy enhanced time to dictate and animate proceedings.

Also propelling his team forward with his incisive distribution and wizardry on the dribble, Totti persistently created openings for his team on his way to unsettling Parma's structure.

The roles of Batistuta and Montella were also integral. Montella mixed things up shrewdly by either dropping deep to act as an extra 10, or alternatively by bursting in behind. Batistuta would maintain depth and typically be positioned on the shoulder of the last man.

In doing so, not only did he use his crisp timing and angling of his runs to be an outlet, but he significantly pinned one or more markers, thus stretching the space between the lines for the likes of Totti to explore. How Batistuta supplied such an admirable target for long balls was valuable in Roma winning headed flick-ons and knock downs to teammates in promising locations too.

Roma's central presence was duly amplified by Tommasi's penetrative runs into the box from deep, which were so hard to track due to their speed and element of surprise to Parma's preoccupied defenders.

Subsequently giving Roma another number inside the area, the tireless Italian provided some further impetus for any through balls or crosses. Emerson's covering of his midfield partner in crime when he sprung ahead warranted praise, thus giving him the platform to jet forward in the knowledge structural stability was present.

Roma's complementary wing backs, Cafu and Candela, ensured width was added to attacks, making the most of every chance to bomb on and pin back, plus stretch, their adversaries. In the case of Cafu, his ferocious desire to attack and get into such advanced areas saw Roma able to put the visitors on the back foot and draw multiple markers.

The catalyst for the opener came about following a lung-busting blindside run from Candela into the box. The silky skilled Frenchman then got the ball under control and pinpointed a late arriving Totti inside the box, who thumped his finish home after a cheeky dummy by Montella.

For the second, having won the ball back cleanly, Cafu obliged Batistuta's slick depth run with a sharp through ball. The burly former Boca Juniors star then latched onto the pass and ripped a fierce shot on goal that Buffon could only parry into the path of Montella who scored with ease.

As the ball hit the back of the net, the crowd erupted as Montella wheeled away in jubilation with his famous aeroplane celebration, the tension now eased considerably.

In the case of the third, Montella and Batistuta parlayed once more, as the former found the latter with a magical aerial ball. Curling his run to perfection, Batistuta's first touch was a thing of beauty as he bamboozled Fabio Cannavaro – a future Ballon d’Or winner - with his cut infield, before blasting home with his left foot to seal the victory and the title in fitting style.

Although a pitch invasion caused a 20 minute delay in the closing stages, the final whistle eventually blew, triggering wild celebrations inside a packed Olimpico.

A team full of leaders, character, determination and match winners, Capello praised his side's exceptional spirit and attitude in his post-match comments.

An emotional Totti added: "This a magical moment. I've dreamed of this my whole life."

Nearly 20 years on from that outstanding match and achievement, it's always a joy to roll back the years and remember the marvellous, multifaceted Roma team who took Italy by storm that season.