What Happens If Napoli and Inter Finish Level on Points? Serie A’s Unique Tiebreaker Rule Explained

As the Serie A title race heats up, a crucial question arises: what if Napoli and Inter finish the season level on points?

In most leagues, such a scenario would trigger a comparison of goal difference, head-to-head records, and other statistical tiebreakers. But not in Italy — not anymore. Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Serie A introduced a dramatic rule change: in the event of a tie at the top of the table, the title will be decided by a golden playoff match.

Yes, you read that correctly.

If two teams finish the season with the same number of points, all traditional tiebreakers — goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head results — are set aside. Instead, the two clubs will face off in a one-off final on neutral ground. If the match ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it goes straight to penalties. No extra time, no second legs — just one golden match for the scudetto.

This rule applies exclusively to the title race. For all other standings (European qualification, relegation, etc.), the usual tiebreakers remain in place.

While the regulation is new, the concept isn’t entirely unfamiliar to Italian football fans. Golden title deciders were used in Serie A before being abolished in 2005. The last time such a match took place was in the 1963/64 season, when Bologna defeated Inter in a playoff to win the title.

Elsewhere in Europe, similar scenarios exist but are extremely rare. In the Premier League and Ligue 1, a playoff match would only occur if teams are tied on every metric: points, goal difference, goals scored. In the Bundesliga, the tiebreak extends to away goals in head-to-head matches, while La Liga even includes fair play points (such as yellow and red cards) in its calculations.

With the Serie A title race potentially going down to the wire, fans might soon witness the first golden playoff of the modern era — a spectacle that would add a thrilling chapter to the league's rich history.

Published by Patrick Jane
22.05.2025