A Final Day Rollercoaster: Everything That Happened As The Serie A Drew To A Close
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A Final Day Rollercoaster: Everything That Happened As The Serie A Drew To A Close

A Final Day Rollercoaster: Everything that Happened as the Serie A Drew to a Close

The Serie A season came to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday, with the curtain coming down on a number of storylines in every part of the table.

A Champion was crowned, European football went down to the wire, and two more sides were condemned to relegation, as the Italian top flight once again underlined why it is a sleeper pick for one of the most exciting leagues in the world.

It has been a rich season from start to finish, with drama virtually from the very first matchday, and it was fitting that a season so competitive went to the final day to decide all the crucial spots.

Here is what went down on the final day of the Serie A season, as we take a tour through all the winners and losers from the 2024/25 campaign.

Napoli Reign Supreme

Undoubtedly the most anticipated fixture of the final weekend saw Napoli and Inter Milan go for the title. Just one point separated the two sides going into the final day, after Inter had missed the chance to take top spot the previous week after a draw to Lazio.

As a result, Napoli knew that their title destiny was firmly in their hands as they hosted Cagliari at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Inter meanwhile knew they would have to rely on a Napoli slip up even if they left Como with all three points.

The end of the Serie A season is rather unconventional in its scheduling: Inter and Napoli both played on Friday, two more games were played on Saturday, and the remaining six were completed on the Sunday, meaning that a number of teams who played earlier in the weekend didn’t know their fate until after the final ball had been kicked.

However, it meant Italian fans were treated to a title deciding Friday. Both games kicked-off at 19:45, and at half time the referee’s even made sure that the two sides restarted at the same time, meaning Napoli had to spend a little longer than Inter waiting in the changing room at the break.

Inter struck the first blow, as veteran centre back Stefan De Vrij rose highest with a towering header to nod his side in front from a corner, taking Inter Milan temporarily top of the table in the process. They were a step closer to the title - all they needed now was a Cagliari defensive masterclass or a huge blunder from Antonio Conte’s side.

However, Serie A MVP Scott McTominay had other ideas. The Manchester United reject, now worshipped as “McBro” in Naples, showed exactly why he is so highly rated on the west coast as he met a low Matteo Politano cross with a picture perfect close-range scissor kick, which snuck under the goal-keeper before he could react.

It broke a dam of emotions for Naples fans, who had seen their side come agonisingly close countless times in the first 40 minutes. Just three minutes previously, Leonardo Spinazzola saw two shots blocked in a chaotic goal-mouth scramble which would have left Conte wondering whether it was going to be his day.

As the goal in Naples found the back of the net, there was also drama in the Alps, as Como keeper Pepe Reina was shown a red card for minimal contact on Mehdi Taremi, giving Inter a helping hand in a game they needed to win. However, no goals followed, and as the half time whistle blew, Napoli knew they were just 45 minutes away from a second Serie A title in three years.

The second halves of both games started in a similar vein - the two title contenders pressed for an early second period goal, looking to put pressure on the other, and both duly got their reward - in the same minute no less.

Inter doubled their lead through Joaquin Correa, who showed quick feet and neat finishing on a lightning quick counter-attack, before another reinvigorated Napoli favourite Romelu Lukaku took matters into his own hands.

A clearance by centre back Amir Rrahmani suddenly saw the Belgian one on one with Yerry Mina. The Colombian centre back held him up well, allowing Michel Adopo to provide defensive support, but one genius flick beyond Lukaku through on goal, with Adopo the wrong side of the striker.

From there, it was elementary - Lukaku rolled the ball into the corner, sparking scenes of wild celebration. If the first goal hadn’t sealed the title, the second almost certainly had, and Lukaku enjoyed the moment to the fullest extent.

While Inter pushed for another goal, there was virtually no point; Napoli were happy to sit on a two goal lead, removing the risk of conceding and potentially getting nervous. Inter failed to score another, the fate totally out of their hands, and they could only pray for a late capitulation in Naples.

It didn’t come - the whistle blew, and Napoli were crowned champions. Immediately after the game, McTominay was awarded Serie A’s MVP of the season award, and while Conte was elected as Coach of the Year, with the Italian sealing a remarkable fifth Serie title as a manager, with Napoli the third different team he has managed it with.

Though Inter were heartbroken at full time, their season is not over - the players know they have a chance to end the campaign on even more of a high if they come out on top against PSG on Saturday.

The league may be lost, but Champions of Europe has a nice ring to it, and Inter will have moved on immediately to focus their minds on the Champions League final.

But Napoli deserve huge congratulations. Inter led for most of the season, and it was almost more than Conte’s side could do to keep pace with them. But their perseverance paid off, and now they can add a second Serie A title to their silverware cabinet since the start of the century.

The Race for Europe Was A Fitting Finale for Ranieri

With the title race decided, focus shifted to the race for top four football. At the start of the weekend, Roma and Juventus were the two sides competing for Champions League football next season, while Lazio and Fiorentina were battling it out for Conference League football, with Lazio also capable of getting UCL football if both Roma and Juventus lost.

However, Lazio also lost, eliminating them from proceedings. To make matters worse, Fiorentina netted an 82nd minute winner through the lethal Moise Kean to grab a deserved victory at Udinese, pushing Lazio down to seventh and out of the European spots.

This was a big blow for Lazio - for over half of the season they had occupied fourth or fifth, spots guaranteed to deliver European competition - so to have that snatched away on the final day, as they lost to a Lecce side fighting relegation, was a heartbreaking sight (although perhaps not for Roma fans).

In the race for the Champions League, the margins between Juventus and Roma were unbelievably fine. Claudio Ranieri, taking charge of the last game of his managerial career, had masterminded an astonishing Roma run which had seen them lose just one of their last 22 league games, and leading them to the Champions league would have been the perfect way to cement his legacy, while also providing a fitting farewell.

And things looked good as early as the 18th minute, as Alexis Saelemaekers went down in the Torino box, earning his side a spot kick, which Leandro Paredes duly converted. Roma had the advantage, even more so because Venezia had scored in under two minutes against Juventus, which saw the Old Lady fall below the side from the Capital and into fifth.

If Roma held onto their lead and Juventus couldn’t turn the scoreline in their favour, then Champions League football would be theirs. However, four minutes after Paredes’ penalty, Juventus wonderkid Kenan Yildiz equalised for Juventus from a tight angle, and six minutes later, Randall Kolo-Muani put his side back in the driver's seat.

Half time came and went with Juventus sitting back in fourth spot, with Roma requiring them to take a point or less back to Turin. Ranieri’s side doubled their lead six minutes after the break through Saelemaekers, but this only succeeded in giving them a cushion to Torino. They still needed a Venezia goal to revive their hopes of UCL football.

Their prayers were answered - four minutes after Saelemaekers’ goal, Venezia counter-attacked, and a rolling cut-back across the Juve box found its way to Ridgeciano Haps, who’s strike deflected into the roof of the net. Venezia 2-2 Juventus, and it was once again all to play for.

However, while there would be no more action at Roma’s Stadio Olimpico, there was still another chapter to write at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo.

Venezia almost took a shock lead 20 minutes from time, with Issa Doumbia’s strike having to be smartly tipped over by Juve keeper Di Gregorio - a wakeup call for the visitors. And wake up they did.

Just two minutes later, Chico Conceicao, feet dancing, was brought down in the very edge of the box, and after VAR took a look at the challenge, they found Nico Cavaglia’s tackling leg to be in the box, gifting Juventus a penalty. Manuel Locatelli, with ice in his veins, planted the spot kick into the top corner, putting Juve back into the UCL spots.

There was nothing Roma or Ranieri could do. They could have won 5-0 and it wouldn’t have made a difference. The full time whistle blew, and the Roma faithful waited with baited breath for the news of a late Venezia equaliser.

It never came. Juventus, despite a poor season by their own standards, had managed to finish in the top four, and denied a magnificent Roma team a run at Europe’s elite competition next season.

However, this was by no means a disappointing end to Ranieri’s time in the dugout. With a win secured, and Europa League football set for next season, he will leave Roma in a much better place than when he found them all the way down in 13th when he came out of retirement.

It was a fond farewell for the Italian, who in his third spell at the club, had further endeared himself to their loyal fans, sealing his legendary status in Italy. It may not be a title, or indeed Champions League football. But by turning his side into the best team in the country in 2025, Ranieri’s work will be felt for years to come.

Lecce, Empoli and Venezia Fight For Survival

With the title race and the European race covered, that leaves the relegation battle. As discussed, Venezia just lost out to Juventus, sealing their spot in Serie B next season, which left Empoli and Lecce battling it out to avoid the one remaining demotion spot.

And as we already know, Lecce managed an improbable win over Lazio thanks to a strikers finish from Lassana Coulibaly. However, it wasn’t easy going - Lazio unleashed 26 shots on the Lecce goal, and Wladimiro Falcone was the only reason Lecce were able to seal their survival, making eight saves.

With both games going on at the same time, Empoli knew that survival was still very much a possibility as they visited Hellas Verona, and after falling behind four minutes in, found an equaliser just before the break through Jacopo Fazzini.

With Lecce leading at half time, Empoli players would have known that anything but a victory would virtually guarantee relegation. However, they pushed beyond their limits, and were punished with 70 minutes on the clock as Verona’s Domagoj Bradaric nodded past Devis Vasquez.

Still a goal for Empoli and for Lazio would change the picture entirely. With superior goal difference, and a draw for both would have seen Empoli climb out of the bottom three. And Empoli very nearly got their goal.

In the 90th minute, just as six added minutes were being announced, Fazzini struck a free kick from the edge of the area, a strike which for all the world seemed to be heading for the top corner.

However, at the last possible second, the ball changed course, and flew agonisingly past the post, leaving Empoli players with heads in hands and hands on knees. No further chances presented themselves, and though Verona received a red card eight minutes into overtime, there was simply not enough time to take advantage.

Empoli were going down, and Lecce had remarkable rescued themselves, their hard work in defence against a high quality Lazio side paying off in a huge way. Falcone has a legitimate argument for a statue to be built in his honor, because without him between the sticks, Lecce could have lost by three or four.

So there we are - the Serie A season was one of high drama and epic stories, and in a perfect end to the story, left everything to be decided on the final day.

Napoli will head into next season as reigning champions, with Inter Milan, Atalanta and Juventus following them into the Champions League. Roma were unlucky in finishing fifth, but still have Europa League football to look forward to next season, alongside fellow Italian representatives Bologna, who qualified through their Coppa Italia triumph.

The Conference League place was taken by sixth placed Fiorentina. As for the relegation standings, Monza finished bottom, their fate sealed over a month before the final day. Unfortunate losers verona and Empoli will follow them down to the second tier, with Sassuolo, Pisa and one of Salernitana, Frosinone, Cremonese and Spezia filling the 20th and final spot for the 2025/26 Serie campaign.

Serie A proved to be an absolute treat this season, and with some foundations already laid and seeds already sown for next campaigns drama, 2026 promises to be as good, if not even better.

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Harry Pascoe

Lead Writer

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