As the curtain draws on another campaign, the fascinating state of play in Italy means nothing has been confirmed at either end of the table, with four games still to play. Find Serie A permutations below, as we unpick some possible scenarios that could transpire before May 25.
Serie A Title Permutations
Inter Milan’s well-documented capitulation has come at precisely the wrong moment in their season.
Consecutive 1-0 defeats in the league has seen them relinquish a three-point lead in the blink of an eye, and they now find themselves scrambling to catch up with new leaders Napoli, who have established a three-point cushion of their own.
Antonio Conte and Gil Azzurri have snatched their chance to move clear with aplomb, and although the tantalising prospect of a winner-takes-it-all Serie A playoff would’ve been a true spectacle, it is hard to see Napoli slipping up from here.
All of their remaining fixtures feature opponents in the bottom half, although the added threat of relegation may make some those teams more prickly than usual.
Meanwhile, Inter’s toughest remaining test comes in the shape of Lazio on May 18, with Le Aquile still hot on the tail of European football.
They also face two tough tests on the road against Torino and Como.
Atalanta and Juventus can mathematically still clinch the Scudetto, but it would require a downfall of epic proportions from Italy’s preeminent teams this season.
Inter’s Remaining Fixtures
- Inter vs Verona (3rd May)
- Torino vs Inter (11th May)
- Inter vs Lazio (18th May)
- Como vs Inter (25th May)
Napoli’s Remaining Fixtures
- Lecce vs Napoli (3rd May)
- Napoli vs Genoa (11th May)
- Parma vs Napoli (18th May)
- Napoli vs Cagliari (25th May)
Serie A European Qualification Permutations
You are unlikely to find a more breathless European qualification run-in than that of Serie A’s this season.
It is worth noting the finishing spots yield these rewards;
- Champions League: Positions one to four
- Europa League: Fifth place, Coppa Italia winners
- Conference League: Sixth place
It is interesting to also note that AC Milan play Bologna in the Copa Italia final. Depending on who wins the trophy, finishing seventh in Serie A could yield a Conference League place.
However, Fiorentina are still in the Conference League semi-final, so winning that tournament – where they reached the final for two consecutive years – would secure them a Europa League berth.
Napoli and Inter Milan have locked up their Champions League spots for next season, but as many as seven other teams could all theoretically qualify.
There are a whole host eventualities that could come to fruition over the next few weeks, and the majority of the contenders face each other in various combinations.
For example, fifth-place Bologna play Juventus, Milan and Fiorentina in their hunt for Champions League football.
Serie A Relegation Permutations
Much like the top of the table, we could well see a playoff situation unfold at the close of play.
Hellas Verona beat Spezia 3-1 in 2022-23 to avoid dropping down to Serie B, and should 17th and 18th finish level on points, a similar match could be required.
Monza are all but relegated after securing just two wins all season, but Empoli and Venezia are by no means down and out.
From Cagliari in 14th, all the way down to Monza, every team has a chance of facing relegation.
There are some hugely important fixtures between now and the end of the season, with Lecce facing Hellas Verona on May 11, while Empoli face both Monza and Hellas in their final two fixtures.
Parma have arguably the hardest run of the bunch, with Como, Napoli and Atalanta on the horizon, as well as a relegation battle with Empoli.
