Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon has paid tribute to runners up AS Roma.
Roma's thrashing by Catania handed the title to Juve, which do not play until tonight.
Buffon said: "In general all of Italian football should thank Roma for the way they played this season and kept the title race alive. On many occasions this term they truly impressed me.
"We weren't certain we could achieve our targets because they were so strong and confident that it frightened us, so I think the credit goes to them for pushing everyone harder."
Next season both Roma and Juve will be in the Champions League, while Napoli go via a preliminary round.
"I think that when you don't have the economic power of other clubs, it is important to be inventive and find the courage to dare," concluded Buffon.
"These are the only ways I know for us to bridge the huge economic gap."
