Article by Raffaele (@ItalianoCalcio)
With three rounds left in Serie A, there are two important things left to determine. While Juventus has not officially won the scudetto, they are on their way to it. The two big things to determine are who finishes in second place between Roma and Napoli, and who is the final team relegated to Serie B.
We know Pescara and Palermo are heading back to Serie B. Crotone and Empoli are battling to avoid being the third and final team relegated. For most of the season it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Crotone would be relegated, but they have put up a serious fight to stay up in the top-flight league. The Calabrian club has not lost in any of their last six games, winning four of them. This is by far their longest unbeaten streak. Crotone had only won three games all season before they went on this recent unbeaten streak. However, Crotone have been unfortunate in the sense that Empoli have been winning as well. The Tuscan club has won 3 out of their last 5 games. Empoli currently has a 4 point lead over Crotone.
Empoli’s remaining opponents are against Cagliari (A), Atalanta (H), and Palermo (A). Empoli beat Cagliari and Palermo in their first meeting, and they lost to Atalanta. Crotone’s remaining opponents are against Udinese (H), Juventus (A), and Lazio (H). Crotone lost to all three of those teams earlier this season. It doesn’t take a die-hard Serie A fan to know that Empoli have the less difficult remaining schedule. Crotone are making things interesting, and you can’t underestimate their fight and desire to stay up, but it will be a tough road.
A direct place in the Champions League group stage is what Roma and Napoli are battling for. A 2nd place finish will guarantee you that place in the Champions League group stage. A 3rd place finish means you need to go through a playoff in order to reach the group stage. It may not seem like a big deal, but Serie A clubs have really struggled to win in the playoffs. Milan (in 2013) are the only Serie A club over the past seven years to reach the Champions League group stage when they had to go through the playoff. Finishing in 2nd place allows the club to go out and spend money in the summer knowing they will be competing in the Champions League for sure. Finishing in 3rd place may give a club some hesitation to make any significant investments.
Either Roma or Napoli have finished in 2nd place over the past four seasons, and that won’t change this season. Roma’s lead over Napoli is a measly 1 point. Roma’s remaining games are against Juventus (H), Chievo (A), and Genoa (H). Napoli’s remaining games are against Torino (A), Fiorentina (H), and Sampdoria (A). The Neapolitan club are unbeaten over their last 9 games, and have only lost one game out of their last 24 games in Serie A; a remarkable run. Despite that remarkable run, they may end up finishing in third.
Both clubs have established themselves among the strongest teams domestically in Serie A along with Juventus. Juventus are making their mark in Europe as well, Roma and Napoli want to take that step. The only way to do so is by making consistent deep runs in the Champions League. Believe me, Roma and Napoli are both gunning with all their effort for that 2nd place finish and automatic qualification tothe group stage.
No matter how everything finishes this season, we are all hoping for three more rounds of entertaining football from the league we love so much.
