⚽️🇮🇹 It all comes down to this weekend...
In this week’s Italian soccer digest, we're looking at the dramatic finale of the Serie A season, where so much is on the line!
🍿 The stage is set for a scudetto showdown
We’re in for a truly epic final weekend of Serie A action, where the title, European places, and relegation battles will be decided! Just one point separates Napoli and Inter at the top, with both teams vying for the title tomorrow (2.45pm ET, CBS Sports).
👀 Reigning champions Inter sit a point behind leaders Napoli. Simone Inzaghi’s side travel to Como on Friday (2.45pm ET, CBS Sports, FOX Sports and SiriusXM), who are undefeated in their last eight games.
👉 At the same time, on Friday, Napoli can guarantee their fourth Serie A title with a home win over Cagliari (2.45pm ET, CBS Sports, FOX Sports and SiriusXM).
If Napoli lose and Inter tie, both teams will finish on 79 points. That will trigger a spareggio: a one-off play-off match to decide the champion!
🇪🇺 The race for fourth place will be settled on Sunday
Juventus, Roma, and Lazio are all in contention to claim the fourth and final remaining Champions League spot, while Europa League and Europa Conference League qualification will also be decided on Sunday, when all matches kick off at 2.45pm ET.
🏁 Juventus is in pole position for Champions League qualification after Sunday’s 2-0 win over Udinese put them in fourth spot.
👉 The Bianconeri is travelling to Venezia on Sunday (2.45pm ET, CBS Sports and FOX Sports). If Igor Tudor’s side win, they will relegate their opponents.
😲 Roma and Lazio sit in fifth and sixth place, respectively. The Roman rivals both have a chance of finishing in the top four, but Roma would need a win at Torino, and Lazio would need three points at home against Lecce, with other results going their way.
🪙 Per ESPN, if Juventus loses 3-0 to Venezia, Roma draws 1-1, and Lazio draws or loses, then Juve and Roma would be level on all tiebreakers. The Champions League spot place would be decided by... a coin toss!
👉 While Roma and Lazio currently occupy the Europa League and Europa Conference League slots, respectively, Fiorentina can reach the Conference League if they win at Udinese and Lazio lose.
👉 Milan’s 3-1 loss at Roma means Sérgio Conceição’s side is out of contention for Europe, keeping them out of continental competition for the first time since 2015-16.
👕 The Rossoneri, however, has dropped next season’s jersey, which will make its debut at San Siro against Monza on Saturday (2.45pm ET).
🤞 Who will survive the relegation battle?
Monza’s fate has already been sealed, but two relegation spots remain, with Verona, Parma, Empoli, Lecce, and Venezia all in contention.
👉 A point for 16th-place Parma at Atalanta should be enough to secure their safety.
😲 Lecce are currently in 17th place but face a daunting trip to Champions League-chasing Lazio.
👉 Empoli, in 18th, hosts 15th-place Verona. The home side can stay up if they win and with Lecce fail to win. A tie will also do if Lecce lose and Venezia do not beat Juventus.
👉 Verona will survive if they avoid defeat at Empoli.
👉Venezia can only survive with a win against visiting Juventus (Sunday, 2.45pm ET, CBS Sports and FOX Sports).
😲 If the teams in 17th and 18th finish even on points, there could also be a spareggio to decide the relegation spot! This can happen if Venezia wins and either Lecce or Empoli draw.
👍 Our friends at Destination Calcio have put together a comprehensive list of the final weekend permutations across the league.
Who will replace the relegated teams?
⬆️ Sassuolo and Pisa have confirmed their promotion to Serie A, and one of four clubs in the Serie B playoffs will join them: Spezia, Cremonese, Juve Stabia, or Catanzaro.
👉 The first legs of the playoff semifinals took place on Wednesday, with Spezia earning a 2-0 win over Cantazaro, while Cremonese lost 2-1 at Juve Stabia. The second legs will take place on Sunday, with the two-legged final on May 29th and June 1st. You can watch all the games at Destination Calcio.
⭐️ Mateo Retegui’s incredible journey to becoming Serie A top scorer
Mateo Retegui scored his 25th league goal of the season in Atalanta’s 3-2 win at Genoa on Saturday, which all but confirms he will be Capocannoniere (top scorer) in just his second Serie A season.
👉 Retegui sits seven goals clear of his closest Capocannoniere rival, Fiorentina’s Moise Kean. Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman is third in the rankings with 15 league goals.
📺 In his latest interview with Serie A’s YouTube channel, the Capocannoniere-elect discussed his growth with La Dea, his relationship with coach Gian Piero Gasperini, and much more.
👏 Retegui’s goal against Genoa on Saturday was significant not just because it came against his former side, but it also made him Atalanta’s highest-scoring player in a single season. His 25-goal tally beats the record set by Pippo Inzaghi in 1996-97.
🙌 Atalanta is already guaranteed Champions League soccer next season and won a club-record 13 away matches in this campaign.
❤️ Claudio Ranieri receives an emotional farewell at Roma
In his final game in charge at the Stadio Olimpico - Roma’s 3-1 win over Milan on Sunday - coach Claudio Ranieri was treated to an incredible send-off.
👏 The Giallorossi faithful unveiled a huge tifo to thank the 73-year-old for his service to his hometown club, in what was his 500th Serie A game as a coach.
🗣️ “I was there among you 60 years ago in those stands,” said Ranieri in an emotional speech after the game.
🐺 Ranieri began his playing career at Roma in 1973 and took charge as coach for the third time in November.
📈 He has lifted the team from 12th place when he took over to fifth place going into the final round of games.
👉 Roma is guaranteed European soccer next year and will qualify for the Champions League if they win at Torino on Sunday and Juventus fail to win at Venezia (both 2.45pm ET, CBS Sports).
💬 Calcio Conversations
Heading into the final weekend of the Serie A season, you might read in Italian media about teams reaching the traguardo - but what does it mean?
🤷♂️ What is a traguardo? It translates as ‘finish line’ both literally and figuratively, and is therefore used frequently in sporting parlance. For that reason, it is also a byword for an objective or goal.
How is it used? Raggiungere un traguardo or to ‘reach the finish line’ means to achieve an objective, while tagliare il traguardo is the phrase used for literally reaching the finish line of a race. It is a handy phrase to know at this time of year!
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🧤 Pepe Reina brings an incredible career to a close
Como’s home match against Inter tomorrow (2.45pm ET, CBS Sports, FOX Sports and SiriusXM) isn’t just significant in the scudetto race: it will mark the final game of Pepe Reina’s illustrious career.
🇮🇹 Reina has spent much of his career in Serie A, with stints at Lazio, Milan, Napoli, and Como.
🏆 The 42-year-old won the World Cup and two European Championships with his native Spain.
🗣️ "A very beautiful career is coming to an end, a very full life," he said. "I feel very fortunate for what I've experienced.”
👀 Reina recently rated the greatest Serie A keepers of all time…
🤗 How well do Pirlo and Materazzi know each other?
They lifted the World Cup together in 2006, but how well do Marco Materazzi and Andrea Pirlo know each other?
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports, Paramount+, FOX Deportes, and SiriusXM
Friday, May 23rd
Como v Inter (2.45pm ET, also on FOX Sports and SiriusXM)
Napoli v Cagliari (2.45pm ET, also on FOX Sports and SiriusXM)
Saturday, May 24th
Bologna v Genoa (12pm ET)
Milan v Monza (2.45pm ET)
Sunday, May 25th
Atalanta v Parma (2.45pm ET)
Empoli v Verona (2.45pm ET)
Lazio v Lecce (2.45pm ET)
Torino v Roma (2.45pm ET)
Udinese v Fiorentina (2.45pm ET)
Venezia v Juventus (2.45pm ET, also on FOX Sports)
🇨🇦 Watch ALL Serie A games live on Fubo and select games with Italian-language commentary on TLN 🇨🇦
🇺🇸 Watch select games with Spanish-language commentary on FOX Deportes and English-language commentary on SiriusXM 🇺🇸
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