How does the Serie A title playoff work? Explaining rules of possible Scudetto decider between Inter Milan, Napoli

A one-off title decider in a "big five" European league feels like a spectacle of such grandeur that it must be a fairy tale, but that's exactly what we could be headed for at the end of this season.

With Inter Milan and Napoli neck-and-neck in the standings entering the final matchday of the season, there is a faint yet plausible scenario where the two sides could find themselves staring at 90 minutes of direct competition with the Scudetto on the line.

Serie A quietly reintroduced a rule ahead of the 2022/23 season that applied a special tiebreaker to determine either the top spot in the table or settle a relegation battle. Just three years later, it's entirely possible that this rule change could have a drastic impact on the final standings and determine the 2024/25 title winner.

The Sporting News explains why this is happening, how it could come to pass, and where the clubs stand with just one more game remaining to play.

MORE: Full scenarios, permutations for 2024/25 Serie A title entering final matchday

How does the Serie A title playoff work?

If the two sides in first and second in the Serie A standings finish level on points, a playoff is held between them. The winners of that game are then crowned champions.

Usually, teams that are level on points in Serie A are separated by head-to-head results between those sides during the season. However, the league reintroduced a playoff in 2022/23 to settle either a title race or a relegation fight in the case of teams having the same points tally.

The match will take place at the venue of the higher-ranked team in the UEFA coefficient rankings, and will be a one-off game. Thus, Inter would host at the San Siro.

If the game is still level after 90 minutes, it would progress directly to penalties rather than 30 minutes of extra time first.

Has the Serie A title ever been decided by a playoff match before?

One time in history, the Italian top flight title was determined by a one-off playoff match.

The 1963/64 season was decided by a single game. Inter and Bologna met at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to square off with the Scudetto on the line.

Bologna won the title with a 2-0 victory. They went ahead in the 75th minute thanks to an own-goal before Harald Nielsen scored to seal the win.

What needs to happen for the Serie A title race to go to a playoff?

With one matchday left, Napoli are one points above Inter at the top of the standings, so a specific set of results needs to happen for the playoff to take place.

Serie A title-race standings 2024/25

If Napoli lose their final game at home to Cagliari, and Inter Milan draw theirs at Como, the top two will finish on 79 points apiece. We would then get the playoff to decide the title winners.

The team with the better head-to-head record could get the opportunity to host this game. That would be Inter as things stand, as they have a better goal difference to Napoli (both matches between these teams this season ended in 1-1 draws, so the primary tiebreakers of head-to-head results and goal difference in those games do not apply).

Otherwise, Napoli would win the title as long as they match or beat Inter's result, while Inter would win the title if they win while Napoli lose or draw.