Serie A Scudetto Play-Off: Why massive Inter vs. Napoli could be difficult to organise after May 25

NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 01: Stanislav Lobotka of Napoli competes for the ball with Marcus Thuram of Inter during the Serie A match between Napoli and FC Internazionale at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 01, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

If Inter and Napoli finish level at the top of the Serie A table this season, there would be a Scudetto play-off in Rome, but finding a date could be tricky.

The Week 33 results saw Napoli catch Inter in joint first place on 71 points, so with five rounds left to play, there is the very real possibility we could see a dead heat for the title.

While the Serie A rules divide teams who finish level on points by head-to-head record first, then goal difference and other criteria, the Scudetto is one of the only ties where a play-off was always planned.

Even if it hadn’t been, then it would’ve gone that way regardless, because both their meetings ended 1-1 this season.

What this does change is the potential venue for the one-off Scudetto play-off.

Why the Serie A title play-off would be in Rome

The Lega Serie A rules for this season state that the venue will be the home stadium of the team with the best head-to-head record.

Seeing as that is neither of them, it is instead bound to be on neutral turf, just like the Coppa Italia Final.

That is scheduled for the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and would be ideal here too, being midway between Milan and Naples.

A play-off would be a single game, and if there was no winner after 90 minutes, it’d go directly to a penalty shoot-out.

The big problem would be the date, because the Serie A season concludes on May 25, while there is a FIFA break for international duty from June 2-10, with players having to be released by June 1.

There is one major variable remaining, as if Inter make it to the Champions League Final, then that will be played on May 31, further limiting the options.