The 2024-25 Serie A season is winding down. Inter and Napoli are battling for the crown, but Antonio Conte's side look now like the strongest candidate after Inter lost two key Serie A matches against Bologna and AS Roma, but also drew the last home game against Genoa. With two matches left before the end of the season, here's what to expect this weekend:
Nine games to be played on Sunday
Nine Serie A matches will be played on Sunday at the same time, as the Italian Serie A has announced. This is due to the fact that most of the teams are still in the race for their season's targets. While Inter and Napoli are still competing to win the Italian Serie A with two games left before the end of the 2024-25 season, there are six teams competing for the last spot of the Champions League's qualification for the 2025-26 season and also six teams hoping to not join Monza in the Italian second division next season.
The Serie A play-off
If Napoli and Inter end the season with the same points (there is a one-point gap as things stand), the two teams will meet for a playoff final that will take place before the Champions League final on May 31. This special rule, which is also valid for the relegation race, was introduced after the 2021-22 season when AC Milan and Inter raced until the very last matchday of the season, and the Rossoneri ended up winning with a two-point margin over their city rivals. The playoff match will last 90 minutes, and if the score is tied at the end, it will go directly to penalties. In case of a match between Inter and Napoli, the home stadium will be decided according to the rules, which stipulate that the game "is played at the home stadium of the team with the better record in head-to-head matches." Inter and Napoli this season are perfectly balanced, as both matches ended in a draw with the same 1-1 score. In case of a tie in head-to-head results, the following criteria would determine the venue for the match:
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches
- Goal difference across the entire championship
- Goals scored across the entire championship
- Coin toss
Game of the week: Inter vs. Lazio
Inter are hosting Lazio for their last home game of the 2024-25 season before the last matchday and then the UEFA Champions League final that will be played on May 31 in Munich against PSG. Lazio are still hoping to make it into the top four, but Inter need to win if they want to have chances to win the Scudetto for the second season in a row, while Napoli need to drop points at Parma to make that happen. It will be a crucial tie for both teams.
- Date: Sunday, May 18 | Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Location: San Siro-- Milan, Italy
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Inter -167; Draw +299; Lazio +416
AC Milan to face AS Roma
AC Milan make their second visit to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome a few days after the Coppa Italia final, but it will be a special match for the Giallorossi fans as they will make their final farewell to legendary manager Claudio Ranieri who is leaving the club at the end of the season after taking charge in November. Ranieri made an incredible 19-game unbeaten run that only ended on Monday against Atalanta in Bergamo and he will definitely try to make his final game at the Olimpico a special one to remember.
- Date: Sunday, May 18 | Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Stadio Olimpico -- Rome, Italy
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: AS Roma -104; Draw +255; AC Milan +259
Napoli's key match
Antonio Conte's side will play at Parma as the Azzurri need to win before their last home game of the season. If Napoli win, the dream of winning the 2024-25 title will be much closer as the Azzurri will face Cagliari at the Stadio Maradona in their last match of the season.
- Date: Sunday, May 18 | Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Stadio Ennio Tardini -- Parma, Italy
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Parma +506; Draw +311; Napoli -196
How to watch: Matchday 37
All times U.S./Eastern
Saturday, May 17
Genoa vs. Atalanta, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Sunday, May 18
Cagliari vs. Venezia, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Fiorentina vs. Bologna, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Hellas Verona vs. Como, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Inter vs. Lazio, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Juventus vs. Udinese, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Lecce vs. Torino, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Monza vs. Empoli, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
Parma vs. Napoli, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
AS Roma vs. AC Milan, 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
