For the first time in over 60 years, Serie A could be headed for a title playoff, a one-match spareggio to crown the champion. Inter Milan and Napoli are deadlocked on points with five games remaining, raising the prospect of a dramatic winner-takes-all finale.
Last weekend, Inter squandered a three-point cushion after a shock 1-0 loss at Bologna, allowing Napoli to pull level by beating Monza 1-0. The two rivals now sit on 71 points apiece. Officially, Inter still hold first place on goal difference (a +40 differential to Napoli’s +27). Still, that slim advantage no longer guarantees the Scudetto – it only ensures home-field advantage if a playoff is needed.
Under a rule reintroduced in 2022, if the top two finish level on points, the title must be decided by a one-off playoff match. There will be no extra time; if the teams are tied after 90 minutes, the championship goes straight to a penalty shootout. Crucially, the tiebreak criteria (head-to-head results and goal difference) simply determine which club hosts this decider. In this case, that would be Inter, thanks to their superior goal stats, giving the Nerazzurri the edge of playing at San Siro should the playoff materialize.
In Serie A’s long history, such an event has occurred only once. Back in 1964, Inter themselves participated in the league’s only title playoff. It ended in heartbreak, a 2-0 defeat to Bologna. That long-ago disappointment still lingers in Inter’s lore, adding a layer of intrigue (and anxiety) as fans contemplate a possible repeat scenario six decades later. For Napoli, the reigning 2023 champions, a playoff would offer a shot at their second Scudetto in three years, but on hostile turf against Italy‘s most battle-tested side.
The road ahead: Fixtures, fatigue, and favorable odds
First, though, both teams must navigate the season’s final stretch. On paper, Napoli have the kinder run-in: none of their remaining opponents currently sit higher than 10th place. They will only face mid-table or bottom-half sides – starting with 10th-placed Torino – in a schedule that pits them mostly against teams fighting for survival or pride.
Inter’s path is more perilous. The Milanese still have to clash with two top-six contenders, Roma and Lazio, both desperate for Champions League spots. Even their “easier” games, like trips to Hellas Verona or newly-promoted Como, carry potential pitfalls for a fatigued squad. Inter looked weary in the Bologna loss, and no wonder. Simone Inzaghi’s men remain stretched across multiple fronts. They have a Coppa Italia semi-final derby with AC Milan and a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona on their calendar, meaning extra midweek battles that Napoli, already out of other competitions, can watch from home. The contrast in workload could be decisive as the title race goes to the wire.
Serie A’s final round of fixtures concludes on Sunday, May 25. If Inter and Napoli remain neck-and-neck at the summit, the league has earmarked Tuesday, May 27, or Wednesday, May 28 for a potential playoff showdown. The exact date would hinge on Inter’s European fate – should they reach the Champions League final scheduled for May 31, the Scudetto playoff might be adjusted accordingly. What’s certain is that any playoff would be hosted in Milan, under the lights of the San Siro, with no tomorrow for either side.
For Italian football romantics, the possibility of this campionato coming down to a single match is thrilling. It’s a scenario few imagined at the start of the season, and it promises high drama if it comes to pass. Inter hopes to exorcise the ghost of 1964 on their home soil, while Napoli relishes the chance to make their own history. Five games remain for each–five opportunities to avoid, or ensure, a date with destiny. Serie A hasn’t seen a finish like this in generations, and the nation might be on the verge of a title night for the ages.
