With league leaders Napoli just one point ahead of Inter Milan, the possibility of a winner-take-all decider for the Scudetto remains an enchanting prospect. However, not only would Napoli have relinquished a golden opportunity to be crowned champions, but the Serie A title playoff venue has been revealed, with Inter gaining a significant advantage.
What Happens if Serie A is Tied?
Both Napoli and Inter Milan have held seemingly unassailable leads at various points in the season, but it is the former who approach the final matchday with a slender one-point advantage.
Antonio Conte will win his fifth Serie A title so long as Napoli win, or Inter lose. Napoli can also afford to draw, as long as Inter also drop points on their trip to Cesc Fabregas’ Como.
However, if the league leaders were to walk away from Friday’s season climax with zero points, and Inter were to draw in Como, we could bare witness to a tantalising Serie A title playoff.
This has only occurred once in the history of the Italian top-flight, where, coincidentally, Inter Milan lost to Bologna in 1963-64’s title decider.
For there to be a title tiebreaker, the two frontrunners simply have to finish level on points. Unlike other major European leagues, goal difference and head-to-heads are not taken into account, and instead, a one-off match is scheduled to decide the champions.
How is the Serie A Title Playoff Venue Decided?
The rules state that the Serie A playoff venue is decided by whichever team has the superior head-to-head. Should neither team have superiority there, then goal difference is taken into account.
With both meetings this season ending in 1-1 draws, there is parity in terms of the head-to-heads, therefore Inter have the superior goal difference by a margin of 12.
Serie A President Enzo Simonelli has confirmed that will indeed be the case, saying that “at the moment, the playoff would be in Milan.
He continued, saying: “The rules state that the match would be played at the stadium of the team with the superior goal difference.”
However, Simonelli did confirm to the media that officials had considered staging a possible Serie A playoff in Rome.
“Rome would be a possibility only if there were to be a provision from the Ministry of the Interior prohibiting the Neapolitan fans from travelling to away matches.
“But at the moment, there’s no such provision.”
The one and only time the Serie A was decided with a playoff, Bologna and Inter played on neutral ground at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
When Will the Serie A Playoff Be Held?
President Simonelli also hinted at the fact that the process behind deciding the Serie A playoff date may be subject to review after this season.
This comes as Inter Milan also prepare for the Champions League final against PSG at the end of May, and naturally, Simone Inzaghi’s side would need sufficient rest time in-between that fixture, and a possible playoff for the title.
Inter pushed hard for their final game to be played on Thursday, May 22, but instead had to settle on the following day (Friday 23), so that both Scudetto frontrunners could play on the same day.
In the event that there is a playoff, that means it would take place on the following Monday (May 26). That leaves the Nerazurri with just five days to prepare for the Champions League final in Munich.
“It’s a shame that this season has clashed with such an intense fixture list,” Simonelli said.
“And with a team playing in the Champions League final, Inter. But in my opinion, we should keep the playoff. It’s a good thing.
“I’d introduce a rule. If one of the two teams in the playoff is in the Champions League final as well, then we go back to the old rule of the head-to-head or goal difference.
“That way we would safeguard the competitiveness of the league. But without penalizing teams playing for a European trophy.
“In the event of an exceptional case like this season, the team that won according to the old criteria wins.”
According to Serie A betting sites, very few experts foresee any other eventuality other than Napoli lifting the Scudetto against Cagliari on Friday — a team they put four goals past away from home back in September.
