The 2001 Scudetto: On This Day a decisive margin opens against Juventus

This was the day Roma came from behind to beat Verona and move nine points clear of Juventus at the top of the league.

1 April 2001.

The Bianconeri were held at home by (ex-Roma boss) Carlo Mazzone’s Brescia with a goal from former Bianconeri striker Roberto Baggio – set up by current Juve boss Andrea Pirlo.

After seven consecutive victories, Roma’s title charge – masterminded by Fabio Capello – had been slowed down by Reggina with a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Oreste Granillo.

While the Giallorossi may have slowed, second-placed Juventus had come to an abrupt halt with a 4-1 defeat to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, meaning Roma extended their lead to seven points: they had 55, with Juventus trailing on 48.

But with eleven games left to play the Giallorossi needed to return to winning ways.

What happened exactly twenty years ago was the perfect April Fools for Juventus fans. This is how it played out.

15.26: Camoranesi silences the Olimpico

At a Stadio Olimpico packed with Romanisti, in the 26th minute Mauro German Camoranesi meets Emiliano Bonazzoli’s cross from the right, taking advantage of some questionable goalkeeping from Francesco Antonioli to put Verona in front.

Juventus are still drawing 0-0 with Brescia so are now six points behind leaders Roma.

Roma 55 points - Juventus 49

15.30: Zambrotta scores. Juventus cut the deficit

Things proceed to get worse. In Turin, Juve go ahead through Zambrotta.

We are just 30 minutes into the first half, and within 240 seconds of each other Juventus have taken the lead and so have Verona.

Suddenly, the Bianconeri are just four points back.

Roma 55 - Juventus 51

16.10: Apolloni's own goal

The hallmark of that infinitely resourceful Roma side was their character: they nearly always found a way to flip ill fate on its head. They could fall behind but somehow manage to turn it around. Which is what happened that day.

Ten minutes into the second half, Francesco Totti plays in an inch-perfect ball for Vincenzo Montella to head home the leveller, via the unlucky Luigi Apollini.

Roma 1-1 Verona.

With Juve still leading, the gap is back to five points.

Roma 56 - Juventus 51

16.15: Batigol completes the comeback

Cafu collects the ball on the right and drills in a powerful delivery for Gabriel Omar Batistuta to turn in from close range, giving Roma a virtual seven-point lead.

Roma 58 - Juventus 51

16.26: l'Aeroplanino gives Roma lift off

Roma wrap up the points. Cafu bombs down the right flank, gets to the byline and picks out Montella in the middle: l'Aeroplanino nods in his second to make it 3-1.

Juventus remain in front in Turin but it doesn't matter as Roma have done their part. No one in Rome is expecting a favour from Brescia. And yet...

Roma 58 - Juventus 51

16.41: Pirlo and Baggio play the prank in Turin

With the minutes ticking down and Juventus closing in on three points, the unthinkable happens in the 86th minute. Pirlo spots Baggio's run and dinks a perfectly weighted ball over the top. The Divine Ponytail only needs one touch to bring the ball under control and dribble past Edwin van der Sar, before slotting into the empty net.

Just hearing about that goal 20 years on brings a frisson of excitement, so you can imagine how it felt watching it unravel at the time. The Brescia fans raised an 'April Fools' banner: they had prepared it sensing that what Roma fans could only dream of might actually happen.

Nine points was the biggest advantage Roma held over Juve that season. It was to narrow again, as defeat at Fiorentina and a home draw with Perugia would follow, but the Giallorossi's lead was so great that our third Scudetto was never really in any danger.

Roma 58 - Juventus 49