Inter and Napoli will battle fiercely for the title until the very end, but the race for the remaining two Champions League spots will be no less exciting. In fact, it’s going to be a real thriller, as only six points separate the teams from third to eighth place, which—just seven rounds before the end of the Serie A season—suggests we’re in for a nail-biting fight for those last two tickets to Europe’s elite football competition.Lookman involved in a bizarre sub conundrum: When one letter makes a differenceAfter the final game of Matchday 31 between Bologna and Napoli at the Renato Dall’Ara stadium, could have significantly shaken up the Serie A table. A win for Bologna would have pushed them ahead of Atalanta into third, while a Napoli victory would have brought them within a single point of Inter. In the end, the 1–1 draw left the standings almost unchanged, further setting the stage for a fierce final stretch in both the title race and the Champions League hunt. Given the somewhat weaker European performances this season, Italian teams will likely have to settle for just four spots in next season’s Champions League. And with Inter and Napoli having pulled away at the top, it’s practically certain they will claim the first two. That means, realistically, there are just two spots left—and six teams in contention for them. Only six points separate third place from eighth.It’s not just goal but work of art made by Senegalese-born striker (VIDEO)Atalanta is currently in the best position with 58 points, but they’re heading into the decisive games in poor form, having lost three in a row—which has put their Champions League hopes in jeopardy. Just behind with 57 points is Bologna, who until recently were riding a six-game winning streak. Breathing down their necks is Juventus (56), rejuvenated under new coach Igor Tudor, and close behind them is Lazio with 55. Slightly further back is Roma with 53 points, currently in red-hot form, having collected 22 of the last 24 possible points from their last eight matches. Fiorentina is right behind them with 52. Milan, with 48 points, seems too far behind, and considering the team’s current state and form, it would be a minor miracle if they managed to break into the top four. More realistically, the Rossoneri will be targeting a spot in one of the remaining UEFA competitions.In the battle for Europe… no one is happyAs for the run-in, Bologna and Roma have the toughest remaining schedules—at least based on the average current ranking of their final seven opponents. For Bologna, that average stands at exactly 7th place, while for Roma it’s slightly higher at 7.2. Juventus (13.2) and Fiorentina (12.8), on the other hand, have the easiest schedules based on those same criteria. That said, each of these clubs will clash with at least one direct rival before the end of the season, and with seven such head-to-head matches left in the final seven rounds, there’s no doubt we’re in for a high-stakes, high-voltage month and a half in Serie A.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – QUARTER-FINALSFirst legTuesday22.00: (2.35) Arsenal (3.30) Real Madrid (3.10)22.00: (2.00) Bayern (3.45) Inter (3.80)Wednesday 22.00: (1.37) Barcelona (5.10) Dortmund (7.75)22.00: (1.42) PSG (5.00) Aston Villa (7.00)***odds are subject to change***
