Italy: The Serie A championship this season could be decided by a penalty shootout, instead of points, head-to-head record, or goal difference.

Inter is currently leading Serie A with 71 points after 33 matches, level on points and ahead on goal difference compared to second-placed Napoli. However, under current Serie A regulations, if two teams are tied on points at the end of the 38-match season, they will have to play a match to decide the title. If the match ends in a draw after the regular time, the game will go straight to a penalty shootout, with no extra time.

Serie A also applies this "final match" rule for the relegation battle. Head-to-head results and goal difference are only used to determine other positions.

Previously, Serie A had applied the "final match" rule, and it was used once in the 1963-1964 season when Bologna defeated Inter 2-0.

Since 2005, the league prioritized head-to-head results, but it had never been used to determine the champion. In 2022, they decided to return to the old rule.

The next month will be a challenging time for Inter. They have matches against Roma, Verona, Torino, Lazio, and Como in Serie A, in addition to a Coppa Italia semi-final return leg against AC Milan and two Champions League semi-final matches with Barcelona. In contrast, Napoli only has Serie A left to focus on, with 5 matches against Torino, Lecce, Genoa, Parma, and Cagliari.

Inter had previously built a three-point lead over Napoli. However, by round 33, the defending champions lost their advantage after a 0-1 defeat to Bologna, while Scott McTominay helped Napoli beat Monza 1-0. The two direct encounters between the two teams this season both ended in 1-1 draws.