Napoli draw at home against Genoa, and Inter unexpectedly close the gap to just one point with two matches left. Roma fall in Bergamo with controversy over a penalty first awarded, then overturned after on-field review.
With just 180 minutes remaining in the season (barring possible tiebreakers for the title or relegation), the Serie A standings have been completely shaken up after Matchday 36.
Inter are dramatically back in the Scudetto race thanks to a 2-0 away win over Torino and, more significantly, to Napoli’s surprising slip at home, drawing 2-2 with Genoa. Napoli, who had recently rediscovered a solid defensive foundation, had not dropped points after taking the lead for some time. The double comeback by Vieira’s side raises the question of whether some nerves may be creeping in just steps away from the finish line. Now Conte will have to work hard on his players’ mindset to restore confidence heading into the final two matches, starting with a tricky trip to Parma. The good news for him is that everything is still in Napoli’s hands—but, as he pointed out after the match, “there are no more bonus chances.”
The Champions League picture has shifted dramatically as well: Atalanta are now mathematically qualified for next season’s top European competition after a narrow win over Roma. In contrast, Roma have been overtaken in one fell swoop by both Juventus and Lazio. As things stand, they sit sixth in the table and would qualify only for the Conference League.
The match in Bergamo ended with post-match controversy as Ranieri sounded off over a penalty given to Roma and then rescinded after a VAR review with the score tied 1-1. There was contact between Pasalic and Koné, but it was deemed too minimal by VAR official Abisso, who then called referee Sozza to the monitor for an on-field review. After rewatching the footage, Sozza overturned the penalty call.
Ranieri’s frustration wasn’t just about the penalty itself (“for me, as someone from Roma, that’s a penalty; Gasperini will say it wasn’t…”) but rather about the use of the VAR protocol. Until yesterday, the standard had been that a penalty cannot be revoked if there is “low contact” between players, because the degree of contact is considered a subjective, on-field judgment and not subject to VAR intervention unless it’s a “clear and obvious error.”
In this case, VAR could have stepped in only if the referee had completely missed a non-existent contact, but not to question a contact that did occur and whose severity had already been assessed by the referee. Ranieri’s objection is legitimate, and there have been many similar cases this season where the protocol was followed as originally intended. What happened in Bergamo sets a new precedent and changes the interpretation of the rulebook. Whether the penalty should have been awarded or not almost becomes secondary—the real issue is whether it’s right to reinterpret the VAR protocol with just three matches to go.
In the relegation battle, Venezia earned a massive three points at home against Fiorentina. With two games left, Di Francesco’s team would be miraculously safe, sitting one point ahead of Empoli and Lecce. But Empoli’s remaining schedule looks more favorable, and they could leapfrog back ahead in the final 180 minutes. Lecce, meanwhile, are hoping to take advantage of the chaos, though they don’t have Empoli’s schedule nor Venezia’s slim lead—making them, as things stand, the side in the worst position.
L’articolo Serie A: Inter One Point Behind Napoli, Atalanta Clinch Champions League, Roma Lose After 19 Games proviene da Soccer Made In Italy.
