Inter Milan vs Napoli to Decide Serie A 2024–25 Winner as Italian League Look Bring Back the ‘Playoff Rule’

Bolonga’s ‘Easter luck’ against Inter Milan struck again. Riccardo Orsolini scored the sole goal in the close contest, ending the 13-game unbeaten run of the league leaders. With that, Simone Inzaghi’s side now has 71 points in the Serie A 2024-25 season. Interestingly, Napoli also has 71 points after 33 games as both sides have won 21 games, lost four games, and drawn eight matches so far in the season. The closest rival to the top two sides is Atalanta with 64 points after 33 rounds.

But the League Champion will not be decided on Goal difference if the points are level at the end of the season. As both teams drew their respective home and away games against each other, there will be a one-off game – the final to decide the League champions.

If Inter and Napoli both end up topping Serie A with the same amount of points, they will play a title-deciding play-off match due to both of their league games ending 1-1 this season.

The team with the best goal difference will play at home and the match will be decided on… pic.twitter.com/oGNbsMKGdv
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 21, 2025

Out of the remaining fixtures, reigning league winners, Inter Milan, will take on Roma (6th), Verona (14th), Torino (10th), Lazio (7th), and Como (13th) in their remaining five fixtures.

The 2022-23 season winner also has five games remaining in the season and will face Torino (10th), Lecce (17th), Genoa (12th), Parma (16th), and Cagliari (15th). While Inter Milan will have a tougher final phase, their form could be decisive in the run.

What are the rules for the Championship decider game in Serie A?

Serie A reintroduced the playoff rule in 2022, which was scrapped in 2005. The rule states that if the top two are level on points at the end of 38 matches, the winner will be determined through a one-off game. The host of the game will be decided on the goal difference, as the side with the better GD will host the ‘finale’ game.

Also Read: Pope Francis Death: All Serie A Matches Postponed After Death of Pope Francis.

If the game ends at the end of 90 minutes, there will not be an extra team, and the winner will be decided on a penalty shootout. In the history of the league, the playoff rule was used only once, with Bologna beating Inter in a playoff for the Scudetto in 1964.

It will be interesting to watch how Inter Milan will counter the tough period as the side will be participating on three fronts – the Champions League semifinal against Barcelona, the Coppa Italia semifinal against AC Milan, and then the tight Serie A League. Antonio Conte’s men, Napoli, will be playing only in the league, giving them a slight edge in the title race.

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