Inter Milan clinched their 21st Serie A title this season, confirming their dominance at the top of the table [1, 2]. Napoli secured a Champions League qualification spot earlier, leaving four clubs to fight for the remaining two places in Europe’s elite competition [1, 2].
AC Milan and AS Roma both sit on 70 points, occupying the third and fourth spots respectively, while Como and Juventus trail closely behind with 68 points each [1, 2]. The final round of the Serie A season will determine which two of these four teams join Inter Milan and Napoli in next season’s Champions League [1, 2].
AC Milan will host Cagliari on Sunday. Cagliari currently stands 16th in the table and is safe from relegation. However, Milan’s form has dipped; they have won only two of their last seven matches, weakening their grip on a top-four finish [1, 2]. Cagliari has not won at Milan’s San Siro stadium since June 1997, going 22 consecutive games without a victory there [1, 2].
AS Roma are the in-form side among the contenders, unbeaten in their last six matches with four wins in a row. Their final match will be an away game against Hellas Verona [1, 2]. Roma have not qualified for the Champions League since the 2018-2019 season, adding motivation for the club and fans to secure a spot now [1, 2].
Como, managed by Cesc Fàbregas, sits fifth and must defeat Cremonese at home while hoping for slip-ups from Milan or Roma [1, 2]. Juventus, currently sixth, face a tough home fixture against Torino in the Derby della Mole. Juventus lost their previous game 2-0 to Fiorentina, increasing the pressure to win their final match to keep Champions League hopes alive [1, 2].
Failure to qualify for the Champions League for a second consecutive year would be a notable setback for Juventus and manager Luciano Spalletti [1, 2].
Gian Piero Gasperini, speaking about his team's prospects, said: "We’re happy, it all depends on us now next week and no longer on our opponents. Now we’ve got to concentrate on this target that we want at all costs." [1]
The race for the final two Champions League spots will be decided in Sunday’s matches: AC Milan vs Cagliari, Roma vs Hellas Verona, Como vs Cremonese, and Juventus vs Torino [1, 2].