Serie A Championship Could Be Determined by a Playoff and Potential Penalty Shootout

The likelihood of a playoff or perhaps a penalty shootout to determine the Serie A champions is increasingly plausible, given that Inter Milan and Napoli are tied on points at the top of the table with only five matches remaining.

After 33 games, the two leading teams each sit on 71 points. Although defending champions Inter boast a significantly superior goal difference, this will not be factored in should they finish the season level on points.

Historically, Italy’s league title has been settled by a playoff just once, back in 1964, when Inter faced Bologna, who secured their last Scudetto with a 2-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

The playoff system was scrapped in 2005, leading to the title being awarded based on head-to-head records, with goal difference acting as a tiebreaker if teams were equal on points, although this scenario never materialised.

A return to the playoff format was introduced in 2022, but with Napoli clinching the title by 16 points that season and Inter winning last season by a margin of 19 points, the new rule had minimal impact.

As the tension rises with both teams vying for supremacy, the Serie A season promises a thrilling climax, especially considering Atalanta’s early lead and Inter’s uphill struggle throughout the campaign.

Inter momentarily seized the top position at the end of February, increasing their lead to three points. However, the recent twist has changed everything.

Napoli, managed by Antonio Conte, secured a 1-0 victory over bottom-placed Monza on Saturday, while Inter, under Simone Inzaghi, suffered a disappointing defeat to Bologna due to a late goal on Sunday.

If Inter were to maintain their superior goal difference, they would enjoy home advantage in a potential playoff, which would go directly to penalties if the match ends level after 90 minutes, with no extra time.

The two teams have faced off twice this season, with both encounters resulting in 1-1 draws, heightening the possibility that the destination of the league title could hinge on a critical missed penalty, potentially elevating a goalkeeper to the status of hero.