Serie B – second division. 20 teams, 4 going down, three – up. Tickling season… Milan, Lazio, and Bologna were here and what different fates they had: Milan had no rival at all, Lazio had to battle hard with 4 other teams for 2 promotional spots, and Bologna sinking further down. As if we are talking top flight, not second level. As for the proverbial ties… there was no team with less than 10 at the end of the season and going as high as 20 – which Pistoiese and Reggiana did. No team managed to win 20 matches, even mighty Milan.
Bari was last with 30 points.
Foggia, also with 30 points – 19th.
A season fans of Bologna most likely do not want to remember – terribly weak, only 32 points, 18th place and going to play third division football. Hard to believe, but fact is fact.
Reggiana – ahead of Bologna, although with the same points, 32. To be above Bologna is extremely rare for Reggiana… but there was no joy, for they were 17th and relegated too.
Lecce – 16th with 34 points. Relieve… and nothing to complain about: Bologna was relegated, they were not. Well, barely surviving is hardly something to be proud of.
Palermo, in relatively rare stripes here, took 15th place with 34 points.
Pistoiese, also with 34 points – 14th.
Campobasso – 13th with 36 points.
Arezzo – 12th with 36 points.
Perugia – 11th with 36 points.
Varese – 10th with 37 points.
Sambenedetesse – 9th with 37 points. Perhaps this club deserves a note: little known and small, they played for many years in the second level. And not bad either.
Atalanta – 8th with 37 points.
Monza – 7th with 38 points.
With Cavese entirely different group of teams begins: quite above the bulk of the league and trying to get promoted. That modest Cavese was in this group was unusual, but their predicament prevented them from playing key role: 6th with 42 points. Run out of steam eventually, but still great achievement.
Como finished 5th with 45 points. Coming very close, but missing promotion… may be next year.
Cremonese also with 45 points and also unlucky – 4th place.
Catania on the other hand was extremely happy at the end – they too had 45 points, but clinched 3rd place. They also ended with the best defensive record in the league, allowing just 21 goals – Milan received 15 more than them! However, scoring was not their forte… Anyhow, it was not goal-difference or head-to-head record at the end, but promotion tournament in Rome with the rivals – a single goal was scored in the three games, luckily Catania scored it against Como, and thus they finished first and won promotion.
Lazio clinched 2nd place with 46 points. Happy to prevail over tough competition of 4 more teams, although not challenging Milan at all – promotion was their only aim and concern. Well, returning to top flight, although how good was the squad to stay up there was another matter – and to worry about next season.
Milan won easily the championship with 54 points. No other team managed to come even remotely close, easy victory. No contest at all – Milan scored 77 goals, an enormous number in Italian football at the time. Lazio, the second best scorers, managed only 44 goals. Yet, this squad does not deserve even colour – as far as club and fans were concerned. The very thought… champions of Second division. And not expelled there, but simply relegated… Shame. Of course, the club suffered from the ‘tottonerro scandal’, was much weakened as a result, and tried hard to clean its image, but winning second division simply does not count in a club like this one. Not worth mentioning and remembering – the boys just did their job for the moment. Yet, a squad winning second division… really, nothing of a squad, by Milan’s standards.
So: Milan, Lazio, and Catania – promoted to play top league football the next season.