From Tommy Lund

MILAN, Italy, May 4 (Reuters Sports Service) - Inter Milan clinched their 21st Serie A title on Sunday, maintaining their form thanks to a solid defense and a lethal attacking duo.

Inter were able to celebrate the title after a 2-0 win over visiting Parma, moving 12 points clear of second-placed Napoli with three games remaining in the season.

Unlike the dramatic end to last season, when Napoli snatched the league title on the final day, the champion became clear in February, as the closest title contenders, including Napoli and Milan, stumbled, while Inter pressed on.

Inter's dominance was particularly evident in attack, scoring 82 goals this season, 30 more than Napoli.

Inter's attacking duo, Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram, led the team to the title, with the former scoring 16 goals and the latter 13.

This tally is particularly impressive given that they were both injured for a period of time, forcing coach Cristian Chivu to rotate his squad effectively in recent months.

The attackers were supported by a versatile midfield featuring veteran Hakan Calhanoglu, who has scored nine league goals this season.

Tactically, high pressing was the key. The team's defense, which relied on Alessandro Bastoni, Manuel Akanji and Federico Dimarco for most of the season, has conceded only 31 goals so far.

The team's determination was nowhere more evident than during their last major hurdle against fellow top-four contenders Como in April. After trailing by two goals, Inter produced a stunning second-half performance to stage a remarkable comeback and win 4-3.

Napoli's injuries and Milan's identity crisis

Inter benefited from the problems faced by their title rivals, as Napoli and Milan suffered injuries to key players.

Napoli's season unraveled during a difficult autumn, with Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hoylund sidelined through injury, while striker Romelu Lukaku played only a handful of games throughout the season.

On the other side of the city, Milan faced an identity crisis. The return of Massimiliano Allegri to coach the team led to a shift towards a more conservative and pragmatic style of play, which often clashed with the team's attacking tendencies, with Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic suffering multiple injuries and a goal drought.

While Inter were consistently strong against mid-table league clubs, Milan faltered in the second half of the season with a string of disappointing results.

After draws against Sassuolo and Genoa, and a surprise home defeat to Parma in late February, the narrow gap separating them from the top spot has widened.

When Milan won 1-0 against their local rivals in March, it was too late to turn things around.

Milan's lack of squad depth and inability to maintain momentum during the spring months ultimately led to them falling out of the title race, while Inter were steadily heading towards the championship.

By early March, the only remaining question was when the title would be decided, and the answer came definitively on Sunday.