Juventus' sixth title, Crotone's great escape, and Atalanta's magic season... the Serie A end of season awards

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Serie A this season has thrown up plenty of shocks and magical moments, both on and off the field.

While Juventus may have won yet another title, elsewhere the league has been exciting and competitive, with relegation going down to the wire and European qualification hard-fought.

After a fascinating year in Italy, Sportsmail gives out some end of season awards...

Juventus won a sixth straight Serie A title at the end of a fascinating season in Italy

Best Partnership

Inter and crisis were hand-in-hand for most of the season, but there was a much better, more thrilling partnership. Atalanta's strikeforce of Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez and Andrea Petagna were lethal on the pitch and hilarious off it.

Argentine Gomez provided the goals, skill and silly dance, while Italian Petagna, built like heavyweight boxer, put in the donkey work. And the duo are heading on tour, because….

Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez and Andrea Petagna were lethal on the pitch and hilarious off it

Revelation Team

….For the first time since 1991, Atalanta are back in Europe. Most people outside Italy don't quite know where they are from, but that will change. The blue and black team from Bergamo (close to Milan) are in the Europa League.

The coach who masterminded it, Gian Piero Gasperini, almost lost his job after a poor start. But he gave youngsters like Juventus-bound centre-back Mattia Caldara, midfielder Franck Kessie and Petagna a chance, and they repaid him handsomely. 

It's not a Leicester-esque miracle, but their 4th place finish is still extraordinary. 'The target is to stay in Serie A,' said Gasperini at his unveiling in June 2016. Mission accomplished.

Atalanta throw their coach Gian Piero Gasperini up in the air after a superb season

Revelation Players

Atalanta didn't have the only promising starlets. Sampdoria's elegant Czech forward Patrick Schick, 21, was a magnificent combination of speed and an eye for the unpredictable. 

AC Milan midfielder Manuel Locatelli (19) was fantastic in the middle of the campaign, showing intelligent distribution, a hefty tackle when required and a thunderous shot (ask Gigi Buffon).

AC Milan midfielder Manuel Locatelli, only 19, was fantastic in the middle of the campaign

Eye Sore

There is very little that remains inexplicable. Prime example: neurologists have learned more about the human brain in the last fifteen years than in the entire duration of human history previously. For everything else we have got Wikipedia. But no one can explain Inter's 2016/17 third kit.

It was the same colour scheme as a can of Sprite. Yet unlike the drink, Inter had no fizz. Designed to appeal to children, the strip made adults shudder. 

It's fitting that they wore the ghastly gear in their humiliating home defeat to Israeli minnows Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Europa League.

Inter wore their third kit in the humiliating home defeat to Israeli minnows Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Miracle Survival Act

There is something special about Crotone. The club from Calabria in the south of Italy have got sharks on their badge and are known as the Pythagoreans, because the Greek mathematician spent time there.

Their likeable coach Davide Nicola quotes philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, and their star player, Diego Falcinelli, looks like an Italian version of Neymar, due to his lean frame, quick feet, No 11 shirt and snazzy hair. Before and after matches they play the joyful music of cult singer Rino Gaetano.

They started the season awfully, not winning until their eleventh game. But then they got acclimatised to life in Serie A and since April picked up 20 points to earn survival. They beat Lazio 3-1 on Sunday night, and Empoli lost 2-1 at Palermo.

After only earning nine points in the first half of the season, the Sharks showed their teeth when it counted. On the other hand, Empoli fell apart like a £10 watch after Christmas, and are a Serie B team now.

After only earning nine points in the first half of the season Crotone somehow stayed up

Artisic Merit

The bottom line is that Napoli won nothing in 2016/17. Many people are happy to make that point. But for the more poetic souls the Azzurri produced the most attractive football in Italy, maybe Europe, this season.

Coach Maurizio Sarri has had a philosophy named after him, Sarrissmo, and the neutrals admire the way his team move the ball with slick, one touch passes. 

When new striker Arek Milik injured his knee in October, many predicted freefall. Sarri converted Dries Mertens from winger to false nine. The Belgian responded with 28 league goals.

Napoli may not have won anything, but led by Dries Mertens they played great football

Six of the Best

When Juventus beat Crotone 3-0 on the penultimate day of the season they became the first team to win the league six consecutive times. And on top of that the Bianconeri clinched a third straight league and cup double.

They weren't the most entertaining team on Earth. Their fans don't care. Next comes their dream of doing the treble. But old boys Zinedine Zidane and Alvaro Morata stand in their way.

Juventus weren't the most entertaining team on Earth but their fans don't care

Fond Farewells

It finally happened. After 26 years, Francesco Totti, the chunky boy king of Rome, said goodbye to his beloved Giallorossi. 

There was an unhealthy dose of controversy in the build-up and Roma coach Luciano Spalletti got thoroughly fed up with criticism for not giving the idol more playing time.

But the visit of Genoa on the last match of the season earned its own hashtag: #TottiDay. The Giallorossi squeezed past the Rossoblu 3-2 to seal second place and qualification to the Champions League group stage. 

Then eternal captain said 'addio' to his doting supporters with a tearful on-pitch speech in front of his teammates, wife and three children.

Frabcesci Totti finally said 'addio' to his doting supporters with a tearful on-pitch speech

Rodrigo Palacio, Inter's Argentine striker with a balding pate and rat tail hairstyle, also saluted his fans for the last time at San Siro, but there wasn't as much interest as in Rome. 

But the hard-working 35 year old striker left with a ratio of a goal every three games during his five year spell with Inter. Palacio will be missed. His rat tail won't. 

Rodrigo Palacio, Inter's Argentine striker with a balding pate also said goodbye to the fans