Serie A Roundup, Matchday 38
Matchday 38 of the 2024/25 Serie A season showcased thrilling games, surprising results, and remarkable performances from several players. This Serie A roundup provides an overview of the games from this round.
Napoli 2-0 Cagliari
Napoli had to put in a lot of effort, but Antonio Conte’s team secured a 2-0 victory at home against Cagliari, earning the Partenopei their second Serie A title in three years. This victory also marked Conte as the first manager to win three Scudettos with three different teams. When referee Federico La Penna blew the final whistle, Conte and his players rushed onto the field to celebrate the club’s fourth Scudetto, finishing just one point ahead of Inter Milan.
Como 0-2 Inter
Inter Milan secured a 2-0 victory over Como in their last Serie A match of the season, but still fell short of the Scudetto, finishing behind Napoli in the league standings. This win marked their eighth victory in the last nine season finales. Although they returned to form, they were unable to claim the top spot in Serie A. Now, they will turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League final, aiming for international success after missing out on domestic trophies.
Bologna 1-3 Genoa
Lorenzo Venturino netted his first senior goals for Genoa as Patrick Vieira’s team achieved a notable 3-1 win against Bologna in Serie A, breaking the hosts’ 12-match unbeaten run at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara across all competitions (with 9 wins and 3 draws). Despite Bologna’s attempts, Vieira’s squad managed to hold on in the final moments, finishing the season on a positive note with their first win in seven games.
AC Milan 2-0 Monza
AC Milan’s match against Monza concluded with little fanfare at San Siro, even though they secured a 2-0 victory, marking their fourth win in five league matches. However, the performance was once again lackluster for Milan in what has been a disappointing season, resulting in their first finish outside the top four in five years. On the other hand, Monza exits Serie A with a total of 26 league losses this season, including 12 defeats in their last 13 away matches.
Venezia 2-3 Juventus
Juventus has secured a spot in the Champions League for the second consecutive season by defeating Venezia 3-2 at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo. This outcome officially confirms Venezia’s relegation to Serie B. In a heartbreaking moment for the home team, Manuel Locatelli scored the winning goal for UCL-bound Juventus in the 73rd minute from the penalty spot, following a careless foul by Caviglia on Francisco Conceição. This crucial penalty, along with Lecce’s victory, ensures Venezia’s swift return to the second division.
Udinese 2-3 Fiorentina
In an exciting Serie A finale at the Bluenergy Stadium, ACF Fiorentina rallied from behind to beat 10-man Udinese 3-2, securing a sixth-place finish and a spot in the UEFA Conference League, just 13 days after being eliminated from this year’s tournament. This victory guarantees Fiorentina’s participation in European competition for the eighth consecutive season.
Torino 0-2 AS Roma
AS Roma failed to qualify for the Champions League even after securing a 2-0 victory over Torino in their last Serie A match of the season. Despite only losing once in their last 22 league matches, Claudio Ranieri’s team fell short by just one point. Roma finished in fifth place, earning a spot in the Europa League in Ranieri’s last game as manager, while Torino suffered their fifth consecutive match without a win.
Lazio 0-1 Lecce
Lecce, playing with ten men, managed to achieve a remarkable victory over Lazio, securing back-to-back wins that ensured their survival in Serie A for the next season. This victory also eliminated Lazio from European qualification. Lazio’s night turned out to be disastrous; they started with hopes of qualifying for the Champions League but ended up in 7th place, missing out on Europe entirely due to other match results. Meanwhile, Lecce’s three points lifted them to 17th place, marking their fourth consecutive year in the top division.
Empoli 1-2 Verona
Empoli was relegated to Serie B following a 2-1 defeat to Hellas Verona at the Stadio Carlo Castellani, even though they had won two of their last three Serie A matches. Verona successfully held on to their lead, ensuring their spot in Serie A for the next season and finishing 14th in the league standings. In contrast, the outlook is grim for Empoli, as they drop down to Serie B after spending four straight seasons in Italy’s top division.
Atalanta 2-3 Parma
Parma achieved a remarkable comeback against Atalanta, overcoming a 2-0 deficit at halftime to win 3-2 on the last day of the season, thereby ensuring their Serie A survival. This stunning turnaround resulted in Empoli’s relegation while securing Parma’s place in the league. On the other hand, Atalanta, under Gian Piero Gasperini, concluded another impressive season with a joint-best finish in Serie A and their fifth qualification for the Champions League in the past seven years.
