As Serie A races towards its thrilling conclusion, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the teams involved, particularly as the league enters its final four weeks. At the peak of the league table, a fierce contest for the Scudetto is unfolding between Napoli and Inter Milan. This nail-biting duel promises to be historic, especially with the potential for Scott McTominay and his teammates to secure a title victory that would see manager Antonio Conte stand out as the first coach in Serie A history to clinch the championship with three different clubs.
The previous week exhibited the immense pressure that teams endure as the end of the season approaches. Inter faced a disheartening spell, suffering three consecutive defeats across the league and Coppa Italia, which allowed Napoli to pull ahead in the standings. However, the Nerazzurri managed to rejuvenate their campaign with an exhilarating 3-3 draw against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Looking forward, Simone Inzaghi’s squad is gearing up for a crucial encounter against Hellas Verona this Saturday at 19:45 UK time, which will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.
Nevertheless, the excitement isn’t confined to the title race alone. On the subsequent Sunday evening, Juventus will visit Bologna, a match that could significantly impact the top-four race and Champions League qualifications. Five teams—Juventus, Roma, Lazio, Fiorentina, and Bologna—are currently embroiled in a tight competition for the coveted final Champions League spot, separated by merely three points. With only four matches left for each team, the upcoming weeks will clearly delineate who possesses the favorable fixtures that could weigh heavily in their favor.
Examining the title race, Napoli currently leads with 74 points, while Inter trails closely with 71. One notable advantage for Napoli this season is that they are not burdened by the demands of European competition, following last season’s disappointing tenth-place finish. This absence has allowed them to remain spry as the season nears its end, contrasting with Inter, which is enduring a taxing schedule these final weeks. Both teams have faced challenges throughout the season with a total of eight draws and nine defeats, suggesting that a lack of consistency has impeded their performances.
Their final matches look as follows: Napoli faces Lecce (away), Genoa (home), Parma (away), and Cagliari (home). In contrast, Inter will compete against Verona (home), Torino (away), Lazio (home), and Como (away). The average placement of Napoli’s remaining opponents ranks at 15th in the league, while Inter’s adversaries average at 11th, illustrating that the reigning champions may have a tougher road ahead.
Moreover, should Napoli and Inter reach the end of the season level on points, a decisive play-off match would ensue to determine the Scudetto winner. The tiebreaking scenario would see the team with the superior goal difference hosting the match. Currently, Inter boasts a goal difference of +39 compared to Napoli’s +29, suggesting that if a play-off does occur, it would take place at Inter’s Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Intriguingly, if an outright winner is not determined after 90 minutes, the match will go straight to penalties, a rule that was reinstated in 2022—a contingency that adds drama to the title race.
As the battle for Champions League qualification intensifies, Atalanta, currently sitting in third place with 65 points, seems well-positioned, but must remain wary of the hot competition behind them. Igor Tudor’s management of Juventus has propelled them into a more competitive position, while Roma, under Claudio Ranieri, are showcasing an incredible unbeaten run. Notably, Lazio has stumbled in recent games but holds potential for regaining their momentum this weekend against struggling Empoli.
A glance at the fixtures shows variations in difficulty for teams vying for Champions League spots, with Atalanta facing opponents with lower league positions than those of both Roma and Bologna, indicating that Atalanta may find it easier to maintain their advantageous position. Here are the run-ins of the prominent teams: Atalanta (Monza away, Roma home, Genoa away, Parma home), Juventus (Bologna away, Lazio away, Udinese home, Venezia away), Roma (Fiorentina home, Atalanta away, Milan home, Torino away), and others.
Ultimately, should any teams conclude the season on the same points, Serie A’s primary tiebreaker is head-to-head performance, followed successively by goal difference and total goals scored. In cases where three or more teams are tied, results amongst those teams will be scrutinized to determine final standings. As this gripping season unfolds, fans are left on the edge of their seats, awaiting the exquisite drama of Italian football to play out in this tantalizing finale.
