Matchday 28 of the Serie A season delivers an indisputable verdict: Juventus is not in the title race. Last week, with the Bianconeri having closed the gap to six points behind the league leaders and preparing to host Atalanta at home, we thought that Motta’s team might, with a late surge, redeem a season full of ups and downs and fight for the Scudetto until the end. We wrote that Sunday night’s direct clash at the Stadium against Atalanta could serve as the perfect test to gauge Juventus’ ambitions. The verdict on the field was ruthless: Gasperini’s team completely dismantled Juventus, dominating from start to finish and securing a 4-0 victory that left no room for doubt. At this point, looking at the standings, Juve must abandon any dreams of glory and instead focus on defending their position from fierce pursuers, first and foremost, Claudio Ranieri’s Roma, which confirmed itself as the most in-form team of the moment with a win in Empoli. The Giallorossi’s golden form transcends national borders and extends across Europe, as Roma has earned the most points in 2025 among all teams in Europe’s top leagues. And it is precisely toward Europe that Roma now looks with new ambition: the present Europe, meaning the Europa League and the dream of continuing the race toward a title they came close to winning two years ago but saw slip away in Budapest, and the future Europe, which could even mean the Champions League via the league, as they are now only six points away from fourth place. Considering that Juric left Ranieri a team on the brink of disaster, hovering just above the relegation zone and 18 points behind the Champions League spots, this underscores the magnitude of the Roman coach’s achievement in turning around a compromised season.
Lazio, led by Baroni, is having an extraordinary season but failed to capitalize on Juve’s collapse to grab fourth place. The Biancocelesti were held to a surprising and frustrating 1-1 draw at home against Udinese last night, a misstep that now puts them under pressure from their city rivals and also from Bologna, led by Italiano, which closed the gap to just one point behind Lazio. With the direct clash at the Dall’Ara coming up next week, the Champions League race remains thrilling and unpredictable.
The upcoming Serie A matchday promises to be highly entertaining. Besides the crucial clash between Bologna and Lazio in the European qualification battle, Fiorentina will face Juventus at the Franchi, with Roma waiting to capitalize on a favorable fixture as they host Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico—Ranieri’s second footballing love. The upcoming round will also be decisive in the Scudetto race, with Atalanta hosting Inter in Bergamo in a showdown between the first and third teams in the table. For the Dea, which has struggled more against smaller teams than against the big ones this season, this represents a unique opportunity to catch up with the Nerazzurri at 61 points. However, this wouldn’t automatically mean reaching the top, as Napoli could take advantage of a seemingly easier match against Venezia to reclaim the lead. Anything can happen, but lowering one’s guard is dangerous, especially with midweek European commitments potentially affecting performances.
Speaking of European fatigue, Inter’s victorious trip to Rotterdam visibly took a toll on the players, both physically and mentally. The Nerazzurri struggled more than expected against bottom-placed Monza, needing a comeback from 0-2 down to win 3-2. This does not leave Inzaghi at ease for the remainder of the season, as signs of decline are evident, and the number of games left to play is significant. Inter remains in contention on all three fronts, with the Champions League quarterfinals and the Coppa Italia semifinal against Milan on the horizon. Speaking of Milan, the Rossoneri came within inches of a disaster at Lecce. Trailing 2-0 and on the brink of collapse, Conceicao’s side—whose job is increasingly at risk—managed to turn things around and win, staying in the European race and avoiding the embarrassment of a fourth consecutive Serie A defeat. However, the mood following the match at the Via del Mare is anything but positive, and the Portuguese coach’s situation appears beyond repair.
Turning to European competitions, Italian teams still in contention are fighting for a place in the quarterfinals. In the Champions League, Inter starts with a 2-0 away advantage against Feyenoord and has the chance to enjoy a relatively stress-free return leg at home. In the Europa League, Lazio holds a 2-1 away lead over Viktoria Plzen—an already significant step toward qualification, but they cannot afford to let their guard down. The club and players have issued strong appeals to the fans to fill the stadium, a reflection of a situation still in the balance. Roma, on the other hand, has no issues filling the Olimpico. The breathtaking display of flags and colors during last Thursday’s sold-out match made headlines worldwide. Their quarterfinal qualification, however, will be decided at San Mames in Bilbao—the same stadium that will host the final in May. It will be a true sporting battle, with the Giallorossi trying to hold onto the slender one-goal lead secured in the first-leg comeback victory.
In the Conference League, Fiorentina will host Panathinaikos at the Franchi, looking to overturn a first-leg defeat in Piraeus. A one-goal deficit is recoverable, but the Viola’s current form is a major concern.
