
Inter 72 points, Napoli 65. The 31st week of the championship, thanks to the victory (and overtaking) of the Neapolitans against Milan, has pushed the Chivu team towards the title. With 7 weeks to go in Serie A, the 7-point advantage of the black and blues (which comes after the success against Roma) is still not enough to have the mathematical certainty of the title.
How many points are still missing and when can the arithmetic victory of the tricolor come?
Doing the math, the neroli need 15 more points, the result of 5 wins in the next 5 games. Or even less, if the Campanians encounter negative results. Assuming that Conte's team maintains the same rhythm of results, May 10, in the case of the transfer to the "Olimpico" against Lazio (week 36), could be the fateful date because Inter could officially sew the champion's emblem on the jersey. With 180 minutes to go in the championship, once they reach the quota of 87 points, Napoli would no longer have any chance of erasing the difference from the leader.
What about Napoli, how much hope is there still?
On paper there are still some, at least until the math allows it. But it does not have its fate in its own hands, because it must hope for more than one false step by Inter to imagine a catch and overthrow at the top. Even winning all the matches, the maximum quota of the title that the blues can achieve is 86 points. What does this mean? That Inter in the next 7 weeks should not get more than 13 points and stop at the quota of 85. In theory it is possible. Then there is the reality of the field and the results, which is a completely different thing.
There is another scenario: finishing with equal points. In that case, the winner of the title would not be determined by head-to-head matches or any other criteria to determine the ranking, but a “spareggio” match. Inter and Napoli would play for the title in 90 minutes.
Inter and Napoli's schedule in the title sprint
Como, Cagliari, Turin, Parma, Lazio, Verona and Bologna are the next opponents of Inter, who will play 4 of the 7 remaining away games. And the impression is that, if they survive the lakeside challenge against Fabregas' team without damage (even better, with a victory), the path to the title becomes accessible.
Inter calendar
Week 32: Como-Inter (Serie A)
Week 33: Inter-Cagliari
Week 34: Torino-Inter
Week 35: Inter-Parma
Week 36: Lazio-Inter
Week 37: Inter-Verona
Week 38: Bologna-Inter
Parma, Lazio, Cremonese, Como, Bologna, Pisa and Udinese are the opponents of Napoli, which will play at "Maradona" 4 of the 7 remaining challenges until the end of Serie A. Conte's team has only one path: it must win them all or, even, take advantage of an absolute disaster of Inter's results to achieve the miracle of the title.
Naples Calendar
Week 32: Parma-Napoli
Week 33: Napoli-Lazio
Week 34: Napoli-Cremonese
Week 35: Como-Naples
Week 36: Napoli-Bologna
Week 37: Pisa-Naples
Week 38: Napoli-Udinese
Who will win the title between Inter and Napoli in the event of a draw on points?
Napoli has the advantage in direct confrontations with Inter: it has drawn 2-2 at the “San Siro” and won 3-1 at the “Maradona”. However, according to the regulations, this fact no longer matters if the teams arrive with equal points at the end of the championship. The title will be won by the team that triumphs in the “spareggio”, which will be played with a single match, at the field of the higher ranked team (in this case it would be Napoli). If the tie continues after 90 minutes, there will be no extra time, but a penalty shootout will be taken immediately.