With Inter Milan and Napoli at loggerheads with each other heading into the final five-game stretch, a Serie A playoff match for the title may be required. A tantalising prospect to say the least, and although Italy’s top-flight is familiar with playoffs, they are exceptionally rare.
Does Serie A Have Playoffs?
Serie A is unique in that it is the only major league in Europe where the title can be decided via a playoff, should both first and second finish on level points.
It had long been a rarely used phenomena up until the league did away with the rule after the 2004-05 campaign, only to bring it back for the start of the 2022-23 season.
It is also worth noting that this same principle applies to teams fighting relegation; for example, if 17th and 18th finished with the same amount of points, a playoff would be needed to determine who drops down to Serie B.
However, only in the event of a relegation tiebreaker, there are two legs instead of one.
Inter Milan and Napoli Could Face Each Other in Serie A Title Playoff
Following Riccardo Osolini’s 94th minute winner for Bologna to bury a weary Inter, Simone Inzaghi’s side missed the chance to restore a three-point lead over title rivals Napoli last time out.
With Scott McTominay’s solitary goal enough to see I Ciucciarelli squeeze past Monza in a gruelling, champions-esque victory, it means they now sit level with Inter.
Incredibly, both teams have also registered identical results across the campaign, winning 21, drawing eight and losing four.
Whatever transpires between now and the end of the season, there is a strong possibility that the two title frontrunners could finish neck-and-neck.
In that eventuality, a playoff match would take place to determine who lifts the Scudetto.
Inter Milan’s Five Remaining Fixtures
- Inter vs Roma (27th April)
- Inter vs Verona (3rd May)
- Torino vs Inter (11th May)
- Inter vs Lazio (18th May)
- Como vs Inter (25th May)
Napoli’s Five Remaining Fixtures
- Napoli vs Torino (27th April)
- Lecce vs Napoli (3rd May)
- Napoli vs Genoa (11th May)
- Parma vs Napoli (18th May)
- Napoli vs Cagliari (25th May)
It is worth noting that Inter also have a taxing two-legged Champions League semi-final sandwiched between their next three league fixtures.
The defending champions looked notably leggy as they crashed out of the Coppa Italia against city rivals AC Milan in midweek, so the Nerazzurri faithful will be hoping there is still some momentum left in their title charge.
Has the Serie A Title Been Decided By a Playoff Before?
Inter fans of a certain age need not be reminded of this unique playoff statute.
You have to rewind 61 years to find the one and only occasion of a Serie A title playoff.
Both Bologna — who coincidentally could be the team that forces this season to go to a decider — and Inter Milan finished level on 54 points at the end of the 1963-64 campaign.
The former then claimed a 2-0 victory on neutral ground in the capital’s Stadio Olimpico, which could well stage a potential tiebreaker in 2025.
Serie A Relegation Playoffs
That season also happened to include another playoff, this time at the other end of the table. Sampdoria edged out Modena on the same day at the San Siro to remain in the top-flight.
You only have to rewind two years to find the most recent occurrence of a bottom-of-the-table Serie A playoff.
The re-introduction of tiebreakers was quickly put to use in 2022-23, with Spezia and Hellas Verona finishing level on points in the final relegation spot. It is worth noting that the rules have since changed, with a relegation playoff now stretching two legs, as mentioned previously.
The latter would go on to snatch the victory in Reggio Emilia, condemning Spezia to Serie B where they have remained since.
