There are still several days left until the end of the Serie A championship and Inter and Napoli are leading the standings, closely followed by Atalanta. In addition to the two leaders, considered by most to be the absolute favorites for the scudetto, there are also the Nerazzurri from Bergamo who, unless there are any serious setbacks, will be the third wheel until the end of the season. Juventus, on the other hand, is out of the fight for the scudetto, despite five consecutive victories, having been unable to do anything against Gian Piero Gasperini's Goddess, who managed to inflict a very heavy 4-0 home defeat. But who will win the championship and which of the three teams has the most affordable schedule?
Napoli, Inter or Atalanta?
Many have had their say on this topic and many more will do so in the coming weeks. Some see Inter as the number one favorite for the Scudetto, being the team with the deepest roster and the most experience at high levels. Others, however, either because of the presence of a winning coach like Antonio Conte or the absence of cups, predict a photo-finish victory for Napoli, which would repeat the success of two years ago. Few people talk about Atalanta, with the exception of Venezia coach Eusebio Di Francesco, who sees the Goddess as a cut above the rest. Despite having always put Inter ahead of everyone else, according to Di Francesco Atalanta, without cups and driven by incredible enthusiasm, could be the surprise of this Serie A. Yes, the season is entering its decisive phase and, analyzing the Serie A calendar, the fight for the Scudetto seems to be a matter for the few. In this regard, two premises are necessary: the first is that, unlike the others, Inter is competing on three fronts; the second is that the difficulty of each individual match could vary in relation to the opponent's objectives and their state of form. Taking a look at the calendar, it immediately emerges that the most difficult path awaits the Bergamo team, who will have to deal with Fiorentina, Lazio, Bologna, Milan and Roma. Five far from easy appointments, which could frustrate the hopes of the Nerazzurri, forced into a real tour de force. The situation is different for the Neapolitans, who still have to face Milan and Bologna. The other opponents are manageable, many of which are involved in the fight to avoid relegation. Among Inter's most dangerous opponents, however, are Bologna, Roma and Lazio.
The opinion of the professionals
Rafa Benitez, former coach of Napoli and Inter, spoke about the Scudetto race, saying that injuries and the players' physical and mental fitness will make the difference. Inter's greater experience at high levels could play in favor of the Nerazzurri, just as the lack of European commitments could help Napoli and Atalanta. In short, it is difficult, according to the Spanish coach, to hazard a prediction. Carlo Ancelotti is more certain, according to whom Simone Inzaghi's Inter would be in pole position, which is the strongest and most intense team among the top three. Napoli is slightly further behind, and despite Conte's technical guidance, it cannot count on a competitive squad like the Nerazzurri's. As if that were not enough, in January the Neapolitans also lost their star player, the Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. But what would happen if two teams were to arrive tied with the same points? The rules are clear. As happened for Spezia and Verona two years ago, the championship may not be decided on matchday 38. In the event of a tie on points, in fact, a play-off would be held to be played at the home of the team with the head-to-head record in favor. In the event of a further tie, the game would go directly to penalties, without going through extra time.
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