Serie A title race: Which results Inter, Napoli and Atalanta need from Saturday’s Scudetto clash – Football Italia – February 28 latest

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi holds the trophy during the ceremony for the Italian Champions following the Italian Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Lazio in Milan, on May 19, 2024. Inter celebrates his 20th Scudetto. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

The Serie A title race could not be much closer heading into the Scudetto clash between second-place Napoli and league leaders Inter on Saturday, but keep an eye out for Atalanta, who could also profit from a certain set of results over the weekend. 

Here are the results that Inter, Napoli and Atalanta will be hoping for this weekend. 

What Inter need this weekend 

The Nerazzurri gained control of the Serie A table last weekend with a 1-0 win over Genoa, while Napoli slipped to a 2-1 loss away at Como, which means Simone Inzaghi’s side are currently top with a one-point advantage over the Partenopei. 

For them, a victory would put them four points clear of Napoli and at least three points clear at the top of the Serie A table, depending on the result between Atalanta and Venezia earlier in the day. La Dea are currently three points behind Inter in third heading into the weekend. 

A draw suits Inter far better than it does Napoli, as it would keep a one-point buffer between the two sides with no more direct clashes between the two teams before the end of the season. Atalanta would likely be the biggest beneficiaries if the Napoli-Inter game ends level.  

A loss, naturally, is the one result that does not help Simone Inzaghi’s side. That would mean Napoli going back to the top with a two-point advantage over the Nerazzurri, and should Atalanta also win on Saturday, then it would mean Inter being in third by the end of the night. 

What Napoli need this weekend

Nothing less than a victory against Inter suits Antonio Conte’s side, who have not won in Serie A in any of their four games in the month of February. 

Three points puts Napoli back on top of the Serie A table and would put them two points clear of both Inter and Atalanta, assuming that La Dea beat Venezia at 14.00 GMT on Saturday. 

As mentioned previously, a draw suits Inter better than it does Napoli. If the game ends level, then the Nerazzurri will remain on top of the Serie A table with a one-point advantage over Napoli and also a one-point advantage over Atalanta if they beat Venezia. 

A loss for Napoli puts Inter four points ahead of them with no more direct clashes left this season. It would also put the Partenopei into third should Atalanta win on Saturday. 

What Atalanta need this weekend 

It is mathematically impossible for La Dea to claim the lead of the Serie A table this weekend, but there are benefits for them from every result in the Napoli-Inter game as long as they beat Venezia at 14.00 on Saturday.

If Atalanta and Inter both win, La Dea will move into second and will be three points shy of the Nerazzurri with a direct match between the two sides coming up in March. 

If Atalanta and Napoli both win, Napoli will go to the top of the Serie A table, leaving both Atalanta and Inter two points behind them. 

If Atalanta win and Napoil-Inter ends in a draw, Inter will stay on top of the Serie A table on 58 points, with both Atalanta and Napoli on 57, the tightest possible scenario at the top of the table. 

If Atalanta draw of lose against Venezia, then they will remain in third place regardless of what happens between Napoli and Inter, and regardless of what happens below them either.