Italian football is on the brink of a historic moment with Serie A set to have a fifth team in next season’s Champions League, and possibly even a sixth. However, the identity of the final qualifier may remain uncertain until after the end of the season.
The outstanding performance of Italian clubs in this season’s Europa League and Europa Conference League has earned Serie A an extra spot in the expanded Champions League for the upcoming campaign.
While Fiorentina continues their journey in the latter tournament after last year’s final defeat. Atalanta and Roma are still in contention for Europa League success.
Atalanta’s recent victory over Liverpool in the quarter-finals has propelled them closer to a trophy, and the same applies to Roma after defeating fellow Serie A side AC Milan to set up a semi-final clash against Bayer Leverkusen.
Both clubs are also in the running for the fifth spot in Serie A, providing a safety net in case they fall short in Europe. However, determining the final qualifier might take longer than expected.
The match between Atalanta and Fiorentina scheduled for March 17 was postponed following the illness of Joe Barone. Fiorentina’s general director, who tragically passed away two days later. With both teams progressing in European competitions. No new date has been set for fixture, raising concerns as Serie A season approaches its conclusion on May 26.
Serie A president Lorenzo Casini stated that the only available slot before the season’s end would be on May 22. However, if both teams advance further in Europe, alternative dates such as May 31 or June 2 may need to be considered.
With only four games remaining in Serie A, Roma currently holds fifth place, trailing fourth-placed Bologna by four points. Atalanta follows closely behind Roma, with Lazio still maintaining an outside chance of finishing in the top five. Meanwhile, Napoli in eighth place and Fiorentina in ninth remain mathematical contenders for the Champions League berth.
As Atalanta and Fiorentina await the rescheduling of their postponed fixture, both teams secured crucial victories over the weekend. Atalanta defeated Empoli 2-0, while Fiorentina’s 5-1 triumph over Sassuolo keeps them in contention for European qualification.
If Atalanta and Roma progress to the Europa League final on May 22, they could potentially face each other in a decisive league encounter on May 12.
Fiorentina’s fate in the Conference League will also influence the final Serie A standings. As they aim to secure a spot in the tournament’s final in Athens by overcoming Club Brugge in the semi-finals.
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