The fight for third and fourth place in Serie A is more alive than ever, the next round could be almost decisive: all the scenarios in the direct clashes
Dall’Atalanta al Milan, corsa Champions folle: gli scenari tra scontri diretti e classifica avulsa (LaPresse) – SerieANews.com
There are only 3 games left to the end of the season and the tussle for the Champions pass is sensational. From third to ninth place, all the teams involved can still have their say. Of course, Atalanta’s 11-point lead over Milan has mathematically ousted the Rossoneri from the race for third place, but the 6-point gap from Juventus, still keeps Conceicao’s team alive.
In the next round of the championship, the calendar will feature Milan-Bologna, Lazio-Juventus and Atalanta-Roma. Only Fiorentina, engaged with Venezia, will not be involved in a direct clash. This means it will be able to try to make up points on direct competitors for a place in Europe. And it is precisely the cross challenges between the Champions League pretenders that could prove decisive in the standings.
Corsa Champions: il punto sugli scontri diretti
In a situation like the current one, the possibility of some of these teams even finishing with equal points at the end of the championship cannot be ruled out at all. At that point, if there will be two clubs with the same score, the advantage in the standings will be held by whoever has done better between the first and second leg in the direct clashes, and in case of further balance, space will be given to whoever has the greater goal difference.
If, on the other hand, the tie situation involved several teams, such as the current situation between Juve, Roma and Lazio, the avulse ranking would reward Roma, which has taken home 6 points in this triptych, with Juventus at 5 and Lazio just 1. All this, of course, before the next day, which will be precisely potentially decisive.
Corsa Champions: il punto sugli scontri diretti (LaPresse) – SerieANews.com
And speaking of direct clashes, this kind of advantage will also be hugely important. Atalanta, which only needs a win to secure at least the Europa League, is only ahead of Lazio. This makes Dea the overwhelming favorite for a Champions place.
Roma, which has 63 points, has a lead over Lazio, is tied with Juventus and has to face Bologna and Fiorentina (as well as the aforementioned Atalanta ed.). Juve has an advantage only with Milan, is tied with Roma and Bologna and has to face Lazio again. It loses the confrontation with Fiorentina and Atalanta.
The biancocelesti, as mentioned, have practically a disadvantage with all of them. They lost 1-0 to Juve in the first leg, and that is why next weekend’s match will be doubly important. Bologna, which suddenly slipped to seventh place, on the other hand, is ahead of Roma, tied with Juve and has to play the return leg with Fiorentina after winning the first leg 1-0.
Fiorentina must be eating their hands, because their 59 points keep them further away from a fourth place where they would be ahead of almost everyone. In fact, Kean and his teammates have an advantage over Milan, Juventus, Roma and Lazio. They are down only against Atalanta and have to play the return leg with Bologna.
Finally, Milan, which appears virtually doomed. The Rossoneri are on a losing streak with all but Roma. The first leg ended 1-1, and in the return leg the result could become decisive. Conceicao’s team, however, seems to be aiming for the Coppa Italia to finish at least in the Europa League. Bologna, another finalist, also has this path, but in the Champions fight it can still be a protagonist.
This article From Atalanta to Milan, crazy Champions race: scenarios between direct clashes and avulse standings appeared in its original version first on SerieANews.
