Here is the Serie A matchday 38 review
The final matchday of the Serie A produced interesting results. Napoli were confirmed champions before the final matchday while two out of the three teams to be relegated were also known before the final matchday. However, the last team to be relegated and the battle for European football was at stake during the final matchday. Let us delve into all the action that took place:
Sassuolo 1-3 Fiorentina
The UEFA Conference League finalists defeated a Sassuolo team that finished the game with 9 men. Two of Sassuolo’s players, Tressoldi and Rogerio, all defenders, received a red card. However, their sending off was after the 80th minute and Fiorentina scored one goal after the 80th minute. All goals came in the second half with Fiorentina netting first. Berardi equalised for Sassuolo from the spot but Fiorentina scored two goals within four minutes to secure a comfortable win.
Torino 0-1 Inter Milan
Torino hosted Inter in a fierce encounter that had a lone goal to separate the two sides. Inter’s goal came in the 37th minute through Marcelo Brozovic in the first half. The win was crucial to Inter placing 3rd on the table, although they would have finished in the top four if they had lost.
Cremonese 2-0 Salernitana
A team that is set for relegation, Cremonese, gave Salernitana a tough match in their last Serie A match before being demoted to Serie B. The hosts showed great resilient and managed two goals, one in either half. Buonaiuto gave them the lead from the spot before Tsadjout doubled their lead in the stoppage time in the second half.
Empoli 0-2 Lazio
Lazio’s win confirmed their 2nd place finish, getting them a spot in next season’s Champions League. The visitors dominated the game but all 2 goals came in the second half. Romagnoli first opened the scoring for Lazio in the 48th minute before Luis Alberto added a second at stoppage time.
Napoli 2-0 Sampdoria
Napoli were confirmed Serie A champions before this game but it was essential to win since they were being handed the Serie A title after the game. The game proved a bit difficult for Napoli until Osimhen converted a penalty in the 64th minute. Simeone then doubled the Champions’ advantage in the 85th minute. Sampdoria were confirmed to be relegated before this match and finished bottom of the table with 19 points.
Atalanta 5-2 Monza
Atalanta and Monza put up a show in this 7-goal thriller match. Koopmeiners netted a hattrick, two of which were the game’s opening goals before netting his 3rd after Hojlund’s strike in the 79th minute. Colpani and Petagna managed to draw two back for Monza but Luis Muriel worsened Monza’s frustration by adding a fifth goal at stoppage time.
Lecce 2-3 Bologna
In a thrilling encounter between the two sides, the game looked almost certain to end 2-2, but Ferguson’s last minute goal separated the two teams. Lecce opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Banda before Joshua Zirkee and Arnautovic gave Bologna the lead as at the 81st minute mark. Oudin equalised for the home side in the 88th minute before Bologna had a dramatic win with a last minute goal.
AS Roma 2-1 Spezia
Mourinho’s side were almost certain to finish the game 1-1 after going down in the 6th minute with a goal from Nikolaou. Zalewski then equalised for Roma at the brink of half-time. Roma tried hard searching for a winner which ultimately came at stoppage time when Dybala converted a spot kick. Roma finished 6th and booked a place in the Europa League next season while Spezia narrowly escaped relegation due to a better h2h over Verona, despite having the same points.
AC Milan 3-1 Hellas Verona
Verona had so much depended on this game, compared to Milan who had already booked a top four finish. Giroud scored a penalty at the stoppage time of the first half before Faraoni equalised for the visitors. Rafael Leao scored a double within 7 minutes after the 85th minute mark, killing Verona’s hopes of remaining in the Serie A next season.
Udinese 0-1 Juventus
In a season with a lot of ups and downs, Juventus could have finished in the top four but were deducted 10 points for false accounting, leaving them in a place for Conference League next season. Juventus managed only a goal against Udinese through a 68th minute goal by Chiesa.
Teams to play in the UCL next season:
Napoli (Champions)
Lazio (2nd)
Inter Milan (3rd)
AC Milan (4th)
Teams to play in the Europa League
Atalanta (5th)
AS Roma (6th)
Conference League
Juventus (7th)
Relegated teams
Hellas Verona (18th)
Cremonese (19th)
Sampdoria (20th)
READ ALSO: 2023 Serie A Award Winners: Kvaratskhelia named MVP
