Frank Christian
A one-off title match in one of Europe’s top five leagues sounds like a grand tale, yet this thrilling scenario could unfold by the season’s close.
With Inter Milan and Napoli locked in a tight race as they approach the last game of the season, there remains a slim but possible situation where both teams find themselves in a 90-minute face-off for the Scudetto.
Serie A discreetly reinstated a regulation before the 2022/23 season, introducing a special tiebreaker intended to resolve either the championship position or a relegation confrontation. Now, just a few seasons later, this rule alteration might significantly influence the ultimate rankings and potentially determine the 2024/25 title champion.
Here’s a breakdown from Sporting News on the reasoning behind this, how it may play out, and the standing of the clubs as they head into the final match.
Understanding the Serie A title playoff
Should the top two teams end the season tied on points, they will compete in a playoff. The victor of this match would be declared champions.
Typically, head-to-head results during the season separate teams with equal points in Serie A. However, with the reintroduction of the playoff in the 2022/23 season, this mechanism can now also determine a title race or relegation scenario.
The playoff will be hosted at the home ground of the higher-ranked team in UEFA’s coefficient rankings, and it will be a single match playoff. Therefore, Inter would stage the event at San Siro.
If the game remains tied after 90 minutes, it will directly head to penalties instead of extending into extra time.
Has a playoff ever resolved the Serie A title?
Historically, there’s only been one instance when the title of the Italian top division was decided by a playoff game.
The championship for the 1963/64 season hinged on a singular match. Inter faced Bologna at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, with the Scudetto at stake.
Bologna secured the championship with a 2-0 win, scoring first through an own goal in the 75th minute, followed by a goal from Harald Nielsen to confirm their victory.
What needs to occur for a Serie A title playoff?
As the final matchday approaches, Napoli leads Inter by one point. For a playoff to happen, a specific set of results must unfold.
Serie A title standings for 2024/25
| Rank | Team | Games Played | Points | Wins-Draws-Losses | Goal Difference |
| 1. | Napoli | 37 | 79 | 23-10-4 | +30 |
| 2. | Inter Milan | 37 | 78 | 23-9-5 | +42 |
If Napoli loses their final home game against Cagliari, and Inter Milan draws theirs at Como, both teams would finish with 79 points, triggering a playoff to determine the champions.
The team with the superior head-to-head record may host the playoff match. Currently, this would favor Inter, as they boast a better goal difference compared to Napoli (the teams drew both matches this season, meaning direct tiebreakers for head-to-head results and those match goal differences don’t apply).
Otherwise, Napoli would clinch the title if they match or surpass Inter’s result, while Inter could take the title if they win and Napoli either loses or draws.
