The final round of Serie B promises to be a huge spectacle. With all 10 matches kicking off at the same time this Friday evening, many verdicts are still expected.
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So let’s take a look at all the issues still unresolved with 90 minutes left in the regular season.
😰 Bari in PSYCHODRAMA, Catanzaro ahead
Bari needed just one point to be certain of avoiding relegation, but after 12 minutes they fell behind against Catanzaro through a goal from Verrengia.
With Pescara leading Spezia thanks to Faraoni, the biancorossi would be going down to Serie C and the Abruzzese side into the playout.
😱 WILD start in Cesena: 2-2 after 13 minutes
Serie B bursts onto the scene in all its spectacular glory at Cesena’s Orogel Stadium.
In the space of 7 minutes, the Romagna side went behind to a goal from Di Maggio and then turned it around through Shpendi and Cerri, who also assisted each other. But in the 13th minute, Di Maggio grabbed his second to level it again.
🧨 Calò hits double figures, Frosinone 1-0 up: Serie A within touching distance
The game also takes an encouraging turn right away in Frosinone. VAR spots contact in the box by Castellini on Monterisi and sends the referee to the monitor.
Calò steps up from the spot, sends Bardi the wrong way, and scores a goal that feels like Serie A, crowning a magnificent season. The playmaker has now reached double figures, and he has also registered 14 assists.
🤯 INCREDIBLE in Monza, Empoli ahead after 10 seconds
After just 10 seconds, Empoli took the lead in Monza through Stiven Shpendi, finishing after a shot was fortuitously deflected following a fine individual run by Elia.
With this goal, Empoli would be mathematically safe and Monza would go into the playoffs, while Frosinone would seal promotion instead.
The state of play: automatic promotion and playoffs
Venezia already celebrated promotion to Serie A last week with a draw away at Spezia. Frosinone are 3 points ahead of Monza, so Massimiliano Alvini’s side only need a draw against Mantova to be certain of promotion.
Palermo, Catanzaro, Modena and Juve Stabia are already guaranteed playoff places, while the final spot is being contested by five teams: Avellino, Cesena and Mantova on 46 points, and Carrarese and Sampdoria on 44.
The state of play: relegation and playout
With just one match left, no team has been relegated yet. However, the fate of Reggiana, Spezia and Pescara hangs by a thread. One point for Bari against Catanzaro would be enough to condemn the three teams currently on 34 points to Serie C.
The biancorossi themselves have very little chance of avoiding the relegation playoff even with a win. Empoli, Südtirol and Entella are the other three teams at risk of the playout. It should be remembered that if Bari lose and the other three win, there would be no post-season at all: a 5-point gap would open up between 17th and 16th place and, according to the rules, in that case the bottom four are relegated.
What happens if teams finish level on points
If two teams finish level on points, the standings would be decided by head-to-head results and, if those were equal, by goal difference in those matches. If the teams were still level, overall goal difference across the entire season would then be considered.
If instead three or more teams were level on points, the mini-table would come into play, calculated by adding up the points won in the league meetings between the clubs involved. Below are the possible combinations for the playoff spot, automatic survival and the playout and relegation zone.
Playoff and playout dates
The post-season will begin almost immediately. Tuesday the 12th will feature the two preliminary playoff matches, while the semifinals will be played on May 16 and 17 for the first legs and May 19 and 20 for the second legs. The first leg of the final is scheduled for the 24th, with the return leg on the 29th.
The playout, meanwhile, will be played over the next two Fridays. The first leg is on the 15th, the return leg on the 22nd.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.
