Napoli were the only side from the top four in the Serie A standings to collect all points at stake last weekend following a fine 4-2 win over Sampdoria.
Leaders Juventus delayed their title celebrations by a few days after conceding a 2-1 defeat in a keenly-fought derby (unfortunately marred by a series of incidents) to a determined Torino side.
It was Juve’s first loss to the Maroons since April 9, 1995 (1-2).
However, the setback will in no way deprive the ‘Old Lady’ from claiming a fourth straight scudetto, given their current 14-point lead over nearest pursuers Lazio who were held by minnows Chievo 1-1 at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
The day before, a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Inter, confirmed yet again Roma’s meltdown since the turn of the year.
Rudi Garcia’s men are currently third, one point adrift of city neighbours Lazio with whom they will cross swords on the penultimate day of the season.
Europa League semi-finalists Napoli are currently fourth, just two points behind Roma.
It seems that Napoli have regained the momentum to break into the top-three.
Roma are misfiring badly but Lazio, despite their dip of late – one point from the last available six – have enough quality to keep their top-three status which means Champions League football next season.
For sure, Roma have to up their game significantly to hold on to third place.
Since the beginning of 2015, they only managed four wins and 10 draws from 16 league outings.
During the same period, the Giallorossi were also knocked out from the Coppa Italia and Europa League by the same team – Fiorentina.
There seem to be no words to explain Roma’s fall from grace in the last few months.
In their remaining six fixtures, apart from a make-or-break encounter with Lazio on May 24, Roma still have to travel to Sassuolo (tonight) and Milan. Their three home games are against Genoa, Udinese and Palermo.
Lazio host bottom side Parma, Inter and Roma and visit Atalanta, Sampdoria and Napoli.
Following their trip to Empoli tomorrow, Rafa Benitez’s Napoli play Milan at home this weekend.
Napoli’s focus will then turn to the Europa League as they take on Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk of Ukraine.
This will be Napoli’s first appearance in a Euro club competition semi-final since their 4-2 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in April 1989.
In between the double header against Dnipro, Napoli play away at Parma.
Napoli fans are hoping that the side’s easy home fixture against lowly Cesena and the trip up north to Juventus will be the prelude to the Europa League final showdown in Warsaw on May 27, possibly against Fiorentina in what would be the fifth all-Italian final in this competition following the showdowns of 1990, 1991, 1995 and 1998.
Also, if Napoli lift the Europa League, Benitez will match veteran Giovanni Trapattoni’s record haul of three wins in this competition, having led Valencia to the title in 2004 and Chelsea two years ago.
Irrelevant clash
Napoli’s final home game against Lazio, on May 31, could become irrelevant for the southerners if they become the first Italian club since Parma to win the Europa League in 1999.
In fact, as from this year, the winner of the Europa League will be rewarded with a place in the 2015/16 Champions League.
The change was effected by UEFA to make the Europa League tournament more attractive to the participating teams.
In such an eventuality, the Serie A will not get an extra Champions League berth automatically.
On the contrary, it all depends on Napoli’s final position at the end of the season.
If they make the top three and win the Europa League next month, Italy will still have three participants in next season’s Champions League.
The Serie A stands to benefit only if the status quo in the top-three positions is maintained, meaning that Juventus and Lazio will qualify to the group stage and Roma to the third qualifying round.
If Napoli or Fiorentina win the Europa League and, at the same time, finish outside the top-three in the domestic league, there will be four Italian teams in the Champions League next season, equalling the number of participants from England, Spain and Germany.