Napoli’s surprising 3-2 home loss to Bologna has tightened the race for the final three Champions League berths in Serie A, as Juventus, Milan, Roma, and Como are closing the gap.
A victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona would have mathematically secured Napoli’s place in the top four. However, after coming back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2, they conceded a late winner from Jonathan Rowe.
This result leaves Napoli only two points ahead of third-placed Juventus. Crucially, the gap to Milan and Roma is now just three points. Como also remains in contention, sitting five points behind second place with only two rounds left to play.
The schedule for Week 37’s Serie A fixtures has been set, and all five matches involving these contending teams will be played simultaneously on Sunday at 11:30 AM UK time (12:30 PM CEST). This measure is in place to ensure fair play, preventing any team from gaining an advantage by knowing the outcomes of other crucial games.
Napoli’s upcoming away match against Pisa could have been rescheduled to an evening slot had their Champions League qualification been confirmed. However, this is no longer the case.
With only the top four teams in Serie A securing Champions League spots this season, Inter is already guaranteed a place. However, the remaining three coveted positions are being fiercely contested by five different clubs.
In Serie A, goal difference is not the primary tie-breaker. If teams finish level on points, their head-to-head record from the season will be used to determine their standings. In scenarios where more than two teams are tied, a mini-league based on their collective head-to-head results will be established.
Serie A Standings
| Rank | Teams | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter | 36 | 85 |
| 2 | Napoli | 35 | 70 |
| 3 | Juventus | 36 | 68 |
| 4 | Roma | 36 | 67 |
| 5 | Milan | 36 | 67 |
| 6 | Como | 36 | 65 |