Serie A: All about to end
With only 5 games to go to the end of the season, here is a comprehensive guide to the remaining fixtures of the concerned teams and their predicted/deserved positions come end of season:
Champions League places: Top three, with play-offs for third.
Europa League places: 4th and 5th, along with the winner of Coppa Italia (or in case of winner being in top 5, the losing finalist; or in case both finalists are in top 5, the 6th placed team.)
Relegation: Bottom 3, i.e. 18th, 19th and 20th.
Champions: Juventus are most definitively the champions of Serie A this season (in fact, the Champions sections has been the easiest to write given the utter domination of the champions in their respective leagues this season). They, at 77 points, are 11 clear of 2nd placed Napoli and look comfortable going into the end, with just a desperate Palermo who might give Juventus any troubles.
CL spots: Napoli have a tough ending to the campaign with matches against Europe-motivated Inter and Roma and relegation-threatened Siena and Pescera. However, they sit seven points ahead of 3rd Milan and should see off their threat to remain 2nd.
Milan and Fiorentina have relatively easier fixtures to go with, but given the quality in the Milan team, one can reckon they would deal with the brave fight Fiorentina would put to their campaign and come off with the playoff spot.
EL spots: Fiorentina might just have to be satisfied with their EL qualification with 4th place. Fifth place spot would be a more interesting fight with Inter, Roma, Udinese and Lazio. But with Inter’s quality, Roma and Lazio’s focus towards their Coppa Italia final, Roma’s very tough fixtures, Lazio’s bad form, Inter should just be able to be 5th and qualify. Their matches against Udinese and Lazio would be huge deciding factors towards this end. The 3rd qualification spot should come through the winners of Coppa Italia (with neither Lazio nor Roma coming up in our top 5). It would be a tough match between the Roman rivals and my vote goes to Roma.
Relegation: Pescera seems all set to go down with just 22 points, 7 behind 19th placed Genoa. 18th placed Palermo face very tough tests against Juventus, Udinese, Inter and Fiorentina and should be relegated. Siena face similar tough tests against Milan, Napoli, Fiorentina and Roma and should be relegated too. Torino and Genoa aren’t enjoying the best of forms but have put in some spirited fights of late and have better schedules which they should be able to take some points off.
Champions: Juventus
CL spots: Juventus, Napoli, A.C. Milan
EL spots: Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Roma
Relegation: Palermo, Siena, Pescera