Explained: How Serie A title could be decided by playoff between Inter Milan and Napoli

While other top European football leagues look done and dusted, the Italian Serie A is heading for a thrilling finish. Both Inter Milan and Napoli are level on points with five more matches left. Inter enjoyed a three-point lead till Sunday when they lost 1-0 to Bologna.

Antonio Conte’s Napoli defeated Monza on Saturday 1-0 with Scott McTominay scoring the winner. Despite this, Inter (71 points) are on the top of the table with a superior goal difference. Inter have a goal difference of 40 while Napoli have 27.

However, the goal difference lead will not be enough for Inter Milan to win the Serie A 2024-25 title if they remain level on points with Napoli at the end of the remaining five matches.

What is the playoff final rule in Serie A?

That is because Serie A reintroduced a playoff rule in 2022. Which means if Napoli and Inter Milan finish level on points, then the two teams will be required to take part in a 90-minute playoff final to decide the Serie A winner.

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If that playoff final ends in a draw in normal time, a penalty shootout will take place immediately. There's no provision for extra time.

Napoli, however, have a slight edge over Inter as the Milan-based club is still involved in the Champions League, where they will face Barcelona in the two-legged semi-finals. They also play AC Milan in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday.

Napoli are not involved in any other competitions.

Inter's last five Serie A games are against Roma, Verona, Torino, Lazio and Como.

Napoli's last five matches are against Torino, Lecce, Genoa, Parma and Cagliari.

The final matches will be played on Sunday, 25 May.

Has the playoff final been used earlier in Serie A?

Yes. The playoff final rule in Serie A was in place till 2005. It has been used only once in the past. In that match, Bologna defeated Inter Milan to win the Serie A in 1964.