Mission almost accomplished for Napoli. Match point for Milan and Roma. For Juventus and Como, only a miracle now appears capable of changing the course of the Champions League race.
With just one round remaining in the 2025/26 Serie A season, Sunday’s dramatic 12:00 kick-offs may have effectively decided the battle for Europe’s elite competition.
Napoli emphatically completed the job away to Pisa, cruising to victory and allowing the club hierarchy to begin already planning for next season. But while calm reigns in Naples, tension and disappointment exploded elsewhere, particularly in Turin, where Juventus suffered a potentially devastating defeat at home to Fiorentina.
The Bianconeri’s collapse could carry enormous consequences beyond the pitch. Qualification for the Champions League is no longer fully in their hands, and failure to secure a top-four finish would significantly damage the club’s financial plans and transfer ambitions heading into the summer.
Milan seizes control after Genoa victory
Perhaps the biggest winners of the day were Milan. After a turbulent week dominated by speculation regarding internal tensions and ownership pressure, Massimiliano Allegri’s side responded with a vital victory away to Genoa.
That success leaves the Rossoneri masters of their own destiny. Victory next weekend at San Siro against already safe Cagliari would officially seal Champions League qualification.
The images of Allegri celebrating at full-time reflected the importance of the moment. For a club with Milan’s ambitions, qualification may have represented the minimum objective, yet missing out would have been viewed internally as a sporting and economic failure.
Roma is close to completing a remarkable turnaround
Roma also moved within touching distance of Europe’s premier competition following another crucial victory under Gian Piero Gasperini.
At one stage earlier this season, a Champions League place appeared almost impossible for the Giallorossi. However, Gasperini transformed the side’s mentality and consistency, while key additions, including Donyell Malen, injected fresh energy into the squad.
Now, Roma travel to already relegated Verona, knowing that three points would guarantee qualification regardless of other results.
For Gasperini, guiding Roma back into the Champions League would represent another major achievement to place alongside the Europa League triumph he delivered with Atalanta.
Juventus and Como left hoping for favours
Juventus and Como remain mathematically alive, but both now require help from elsewhere.
The Turin giants host Torino in a heated derby where Luciano Spalletti’s men must win and simultaneously hope that either Milan or Roma fail to collect maximum points.
Como’s dream season also risks ending in heartbreak. The Lariani have exceeded expectations throughout the campaign and remained in the race far longer than many anticipated. However, they too sit two points behind the current top four and now require a combination of favourable results on the final day.
For Como, missing out would still represent an extraordinary campaign. For Juventus, failure to qualify could trigger a far deeper crisis.
The four decisive matches
The final Champions League battle now centres around four fixtures:
- AC Milan vs Cagliari Calcio
- Hellas Verona FC vs AS Roma
- Juventus FC vs Torino FC
- Como 1907 vs US Cremonese
Potential scenarios
- If Milan win, they qualify regardless of all other results.
- If Roma win, they also secure qualification regardless of other matches.
- Juventus need to beat Torino and hope either Milan fail to defeat Cagliari or Roma fail to beat Verona.
- Como must beat Cremonese and additionally require both Juventus and at least one of Milan or Roma to drop points.
- If Milan and Roma both win, Juventus and Como are officially eliminated from the Champions League race.
What looked like an open battle only weeks ago now appears almost decided. Two points once seemed insignificant. Today, they feel like a mountain.
