Serie A Title Race and European Spots Go Down to the Wire: Inter Milan Slip Up, Champions League and Conference League Spots still Up for Grabs

The Scudetto and European qualification race has reached a fever pitch as the 2024/25 Serie A season approaches its final chapter. Inter Milan and Napoli were held to draws this week, keeping the title race open. Meanwhile, Juventus and Roma secured crucial home victories to set up a nail-biting finale in the final Champions League spot battle. The race for a UEFA Conference League berth between Fiorentina and Bologna is also heating up.

Inter Milan Misses Chance to Go Top, Napoli Hold Narrow Edge

Simone Inzaghi’s men were frustrated after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Lazio at San Siro in what was supposed to be a golden opportunity for Inter to leapfrog Napoli. Earlier, league leaders Napoli had played out a goalless stalemate away to Parma, offering Inter the perfect opening to take control of the title race. But they, too, stumbled.

Inter took the lead in first-half stoppage time thanks to a goal from youngster Yann Bisseck. Lazio responded in the 72nd minute through veteran Pedro, who finished off a clever assist from Matías Vecino. Just minutes later, Denzel Dumfries restored Inter’s lead with a close-range strike.

Victory looked all but secured until the 90th minute, when Bisseck conceded a penalty for a handball in the box. Pedro scored his second of the night, salvaging a dramatic draw for Lazio. In a fiery end to the match, both head coaches, Inzaghi and Lazio’s Marco Baroni, were sent off for protesting the decision.

The result leaves Inter one point behind Napoli heading into the final round. Napoli will host Cagliari, while Inter faces a tricky away match against Como. A simple win for Napoli would crown them champions.

Champions League Battle: Juventus, Roma, Lazio in Three-Way Dogfight

The fight for the final Champions League place is just as intense. Juventus did what they had to do at home, beating Udinese 2-0 with goals from González in the 61st minute and a late strike by Dušan Vlahović to seal all three points.

Roma kept pace with an impressive 3-1 win over AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. Gianluca Mancini opened the scoring in just the 3rd minute, and the visitors’ hopes were further dashed when midfielder Jiménez was shown a straight red card. Milan managed to level the match in the 39th minute through Félix, but Roma proved too strong in the second half. Leandro Paredes and Bryan Cristante found the net to secure the win for the Giallorossi.

It was a particularly emotional evening for Roma fans, as legendary coach Claudio Ranieri took charge of his final home game. A large banner unfurled in the Curva Sud paid tribute to the beloved tactician, who was visibly moved as he left the pitch to thunderous applause.

Juventus currently sits in fourth place on 67 points, just one ahead of Roma (66). Lazio remains in the hunt as well, scoring 65 points. With three teams separated by two points, the final Champions League slot will be decided on the last matchday. Napoli, Inter, and Atalanta have already secured tickets for next season’s UCL.

Fiorentina Edge Ahead in Conference League Qualification Battle

Fiorentina made a big statement in their pursuit of a Conference League spot by edging out Coppa Italia champions Bologna in a thrilling 3-2 encounter. With the win, they moved to 62 points, a level with Bologna, but they overtook them thanks to a superior goal difference.

The match was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Still, Viola showed remarkable resilience in claiming a crucial victory and leaping into seventh place, currently the final spot for European competition.

Final Day Showdowns Set the Stage for a Dramatic Finish

The stakes couldn’t be higher as the final week of the Serie A season approaches. Here’s what to watch for:

With everything still to play for, Serie A fans are in for a thrilling finale. Whether it’s the crown, a place in Europe, or a farewell for club legends, the final 90 minutes of the season promise high drama from top to bottom.