The Serie A season is almost over. Juventus, in fact, needs just one point in the next two matches to seal the deal and celebrate its seventh consecutive title. All this, thanks, also, to Napoli's unexpected meltdown. Especially after winning in Torino and cutting Juve's advantage to just one point. This happened two weeks ago - a geological era in Sports, even more so in Soccer. Juventus rebounded from that loss with two wins, while Napoli lost in Florence last week and was held for a tie yesterday at home. Interestingly, there are other questions that Serie A ought to give rise to in the next two fixtures.
Who will play in Champions League next season alongside Juventus and Napoli? Which team will join Benevento and Verona in the descent to Serie B?
Juventus closer to the title thanks to a 3-1 win with Bologna
Juventus won against Bologna on Saturday night at home. 3-1 the final score for the Bianconeri. It wasn't a cakewalk, though. As opposite, Juventus found itself down one goal at the end of the first half with a penalty scored by Bologna's Simone Verdi. Another come-back was asked to Juve players after the one they had to perform against Inter the week before. Juventus athletes timely delivered in the second half. Juve's coach Massimiliano Allegri had to ask his best player at the moment, Douglas Costa - who started the game on the bench - to get in and make a difference.
The Brazilian was up to the task, creating havoc in Bologna's defense and delivering his seventh assist as substitute among the 12th total of the season. This according to Opta.
7 - Sette dei 12 assist di Douglas Costa in questo campionato sono arrivati da subentrato. Cambio. #JuveBologna
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 5, 2018
Juventus turned things around thanks to a Sebastien De Maio own goal, another Sami Khedira's goal - the ninth in Serie A this season - and Paulo Dybala's 22nd goal in the domestic league to seal the final score of 3-1 for Juventus.
Napoli, on the other hand, couldn't do better than a frantic draw against Torino. 2-2 was the final score at the San Paolo stadium in Napoli. Dries Maertens scored first to put Napoli ahead. Daniele Baselli drew-a-level in the second half for Torino, but Marek Hamsik responded and kept Napoli's hope for the title still alive.
Unfortunately for them, a header by Lorenzo De Silvestri on a corner set the score on the final 2-2. At this point, Juventus is up by six points on Napoli.
Juve needs just one point in the next two matches against Roma and Verona. But, even if Juve lost them, Napoli will need to win both its next games (Against Sampdoria on the road and Crotone at home on the final day of the season) by a landslide as Juventus has a better goal difference. In the meantime, Juventus will have another trophy to add to its incredible list. In fact, on Wednesday Juventus and Ac Milan will play in Rome for the Italian Cup final.
Roma, Lazio, and Inter are battling for the last two Champions' League spots.
With the fight for the title almost decided, it's the battle for the last two Champions' League spots that remains wide open.
It's a three teams race: Roma (third on the table with 73 points), Lazio (fourth with 72 points) and, Inter (fifth with 69 points). Roma reacted well to the mid-week Champions' League elimination against Liverpool by winning on the Sunday night match against Cagliari. It was the young Turkish talent, Cengiz Under to score the goal that decided the match after just fifteen minutes of play. Then it was Roma's goalkeeper, Alisson, to keep his team ahead thanks to several great saves. Meanwhile, at the Olimpico Stadium, Lazio had to play against Atalanta. The home team had to come back as Atalanta was the first team on the scoreboard thanks to an early goal by one of the young talents that Atalanta usually showcases year in and year out: the nineteen years old striker, Musa Barrow.
Felipe Caicedo tied the match for Lazio with a goal at the 24th minute of the first half. Both teams created chances to win the match, but none of the two were able to get the best out of them. Inter, in the meantime, was already enjoying its afternoon of success after stomping Udinese. Luciano Spalletti's side won 4-0 in the match scheduled at noon. Inter was all over the place, enjoying goals from Andrea Ranocchia (second of the season), Rafinha (first goal of the season), Mauro Icardi (28th of the season) and Borja Valero. With Roma almost safe in third place, the fight for the last available spot for next year's Champions League will be predominantly between Lazio and Inter. These two teams play each other on the final day of the season, in two weeks.
Next Saturday, Inter will play against Sassuolo at home, while Lazio will travel to Crotone.
The relegation battle: five teams are involved.
With Benevento and Verona already relegated in Serie B, five teams are now involved in the fight to avoid the last place available to go down. The teams are S.P.A.L (35 points), Chievo, Crotone and, Udinese (all at 34 points) and Cagliari (33 points). According to the web version of La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Cagliari appears to have the worst schedule with games against Fiorentina (on the road next weekend) and Atalanta at home in the last fixture of the season. Crotone, who lost against Chievo yesterday, have the second worst schedule, with Lazio next week at home and finishing the season against Napoli on the road.
A more accessible path awaits S.P.A.L, Chievo, and Udinese. S.P.A.L has the best schedule, playing against Torino next week and Sampdoria at home. Both teams have nothing else to ask from their respective seasons as they stroll around mid-table. Chievo Verona travels to Bologna next weekend and awaits the already relegated Benevento for the last match of the season. Finally, Udinese plays against Verona next week and ends its season with Bologna at home.