Serie A Title Could Be Decided on Friday — Or in a Golden Match
Italy’s Serie A has rescheduled the final matches of title contenders Inter Milan and Napoli to Friday evening, potentially setting the stage for a dramatic end to the Scudetto race — and even a rare Golden Match to decide the champion.
Serie A: Fixtures, Results & Standings
Originally slated for Sunday, the fixtures Como vs Inter and Napoli vs Cagliari will now kick off on Friday at 20:45 CET. The change was made to allow a scheduling window for a potential playoff — something only Serie A permits among Europe’s top five leagues.
If Level on Points, There's a Playoff
Under Serie A’s unique regulations introduced in 2022, if two teams finish the season tied on points at the top of the table, a single match playoff on neutral ground is used to determine the champion — regardless of goal difference or head-to-head results.
Inter and Napoli could end the round level on points, depending on results. If that happens, the title would be decided in a one-off “Scudetto showdown” — a rare spectacle not seen in modern Italian football.
Scheduling Tug-of-War Ends in Compromise
Inter had pushed to play on Thursday to maximise recovery time before their Champions League final next Saturday, while Napoli preferred Saturday to give fans a chance to celebrate a potential title over the weekend.
The compromise of Friday evening was also supported by broadcaster DAZN, who favoured the timeslot for optimal viewership and ratings.
