Serie A preparing for bonkers PLAYOFF to decide title as final day fixtures are moved at last minute
THE ITALIAN title deciding games are set to be moved forward by 48 hours – in case there needs to be a play-off next week.
Napoli lead defending champions Inter Milan by a single point after the San Siro side conceded a 90th-minute equaliser against Lazio on Sunday.
On a mad evening, which also saw Napoli held to a goalless draw at relegation-threatened Parma, all FOUR coaches involved in the two matches were sent off.
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi and Lazio counterpart Marco Baroni were both dismissed after a spat followed the award of former Chelsea winger Pedro’s equalising spot-kick.
In the other match, Napoli’s Antonio Conte and home boss Cristian Chivu also saw red after the former Chelsea and Spurs boss lost it with a group of Parma players in the last minute.
It means both Conte and Inzaghi are banned from the bench for the final games of the season, when Napoli host Cagliari and Inter travel to Cesc Fabregas’ Como.
Under rules introduced in 2022-23, teams level on points in the Serie A title are separated by the head to head record, rather than on goal difference.
Both games between the top two finished in 1-1 draws, meaning they would be locked together if Inter draw and Napoli lose.
But with Inter due to be in Munich for the Champions League Final against Paris Saint-Germain on May 31, it has left Italian league chiefs scrambling for a solution.
That will see the two crucial Serie A matches played on Friday night, with the rest of the programme still kicking off on Sunday afternoon.
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If the results do make a play-off required, that is expected to be held next Monday.
Inter, with the better goal difference of the two, would have home advantage with the game – and the title – settled by penalties if there was no winner after extra-time.
With Atalanta confirmed in third, the fourth and final Champions League spot for next season will also be on the line on Sunday.
Juventus – a point clear of Roma – travel to Venezia, who must win to have any chance of avoiding relegation.
Claudio Ranieri’s Roma are at Juventus’ city rivals Torino, while Lazio – a point further behind – face Lecce, who need a win to be sure of survival.
A playoff for the title in Italy has only been played once before in 1964 when Bologna beat Inter 2-0.