Serie A top-four race tightens after Napoli lose to Bologna
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Napoli's 3-2 home defeat to Bologna has left five Serie A teams within five points of each other in the battle for the final three Champions League places. With two rounds left, Napoli, Juventus, Roma, Milan and Como remain in a tightly compressed race behind Inter.
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Attributed to original sourceNapoli’s shock 3-2 home defeat to Bologna means there are five Serie A teams in a five-point radius for three Champions League spots, as Juventus, Milan, Roma and Como close in.
The Partenopei would’ve mathematically secured a top four spot this evening with a victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Instead, they came back from 2-0 down for 2-2, only to then capitulate in stoppages to a spectacular Jonathan Rowe volley.
The result means that Napoli are now only two points clear of Juventus in third, but more importantly the gap from Milan and Roma is just three points.
Como are in there too, just five points adrift of second place with two rounds left to play.
Serie A Week 37 fixtures set ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Gian Piero Gasperini head coach of AS Roma gestures during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico on September 21, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images) This also guarantees that the five Week 37 fixtures involving these teams must all be played simultaneously on Sunday at 11.30 UK time (12.30 CEST).
That is organised to ensure none of the sides can get an unfair advantage by knowing the results of the other matches.
Napoli’s trip to Pisa could’ve been moved to the evening if their Champions League spot had been secured, but that is no longer the case.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 10: Christopher Nkunku of AC Milan scores his team’s second goal from a penalty kick during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Only the top four go into the Champions League in Serie A this season, so Inter are guaranteed, but there are five teams battling for the remaining three spots.
Goal difference is irrelevant in Serie A, so if two or more teams finish level on points, they are divided by their head-to-head record in the season.
If more than two sides are stuck together, then a mini-table is drawn up of all their head-to-head records.
Serie A Table
Rank
Teams
Played
Points
1
Inter
36
85
2
Napoli
35
70
3
Juventus
36
68
4
Roma
36
67
5
Milan
36
67
6
Como
36
65
Qualification for the Champions League league stage Qualification for the Europa League league stage Qualification for the Conference League play-off round Relegation to Serie B
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What happened
Napoli missed the chance to mathematically secure a top-four finish after losing 3-2 at home to Bologna, despite recovering from 2-0 down before conceding late. The result leaves Napoli only two points above Juventus and three clear of both Roma and Milan, while Como are still within five points. As a consequence, the key Week 37 fixtures involving these clubs will be played simultaneously to preserve competitive fairness. In Serie A, head-to-head record rather than goal difference decides ties on points, adding further importance to the final two rounds.
Chance analysis
This matters because a single result has materially increased volatility in the Serie A top-four race, with multiple teams still live for Champions League qualification. Napoli's margin for error has narrowed sharply, while Roma, Milan and Como gain meaningful upside from the compressed table. The simultaneous scheduling also reduces informational edge from staggered kickoffs, making direct match performance more decisive.
Napoli's defeat increases pressure on their final matches and boosts the relevance of every remaining top-four contender's result.
Treat Serie A top-four qualification probabilities as materially tighter, with Napoli downgraded and Roma, Milan, Juventus and Como all still live.