The Serie A title race could be decided by a dramatic play-off game – and penalties if necessary – with Inter Milan and Napoli both level on points at the top of the table. Both teams are tied on 71 points each, with Inter having a superior goal difference.
In Italy’s top flight, teams are divided by head-to-head record first and then goal difference – but there are regulations in place to ensure fairness is upheld, meaning goal difference won’t be used to decide the title.
And with both games between the two teams this season being drawn 1-1, Serie A chiefs would have to organise a play-off game if they cannot be separated come the final game on May 25.
The play-off clash would be a single-leg match, which historically would be played at the team with the best ranking in the Championship – which in this case would be the team with the best goal difference.
However, in this case Serie A chiefs would likely play the game at the same venue as the Coppa Italia final, which would be the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
There would be no extra-time in the game, so if both teams were still level after 90 minutes, it would go straight to penalties.
The Serie A would also have a play-off game for two teams level on points at the bottom of the table competing to avoid relegation – though that game would be played over two legs.
If Inter and Napoli did compete in a Scudetto play-off, it would be only the second time in Serie A history that the title has been decided in such a way.
The only other time a play-off game has decided the championship in the Italian top division was back in the 1963-64 season, when Bologna beat Inter 2-0 after finishing the season level on points.
There are still five games remaining for both sides, so there is still plenty of times for each side to ensure they don’t have to compete in a gruelling play-off.
Simone Inzaghi’s Inter team have some tough games – first welcoming Roma to the San Siro before games against Verona, Torino, Lazio and finally Como away on the final day, while Antonio Conte’s Napoli have arguably the easier run-in. They’ll welcome Torino to Naples first before playing Lecce, Genoa, Parma and finally Cagliari.
Meanwhile the four Serie A matches scheduled to take place on Easter Monday have been postponed following the death of Pope Francis.
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