There are five teams enclosed in two points and only one place for Europe that counts. It is the ticket that is worth no less than 40 million euros, vital for the budgets of all clubs
The crossbar of Orsolini in Udine and the labored run of Lazio in Parma at the Olimpico designed a Champions League sprint that more exciting could not be imagined. Four days after the end, removing Atalanta which has a small but significant advantage behind Naples and Inter, there are five teams enclosed in a tiny handkerchief of two points: one passport at stake for Europe that really matters, the one that keeps up and ennobles seasons and corporate budgets.
A softened never seen first 360 minutes from the final whistle of the championship. Everyone has reason to believe it, but also tons of remorse for having reduced to extremis to try to snatch the minimum goal, in the case of the big names, or the dream of a life for the others. A situation that will also weigh on the final sprint that is played in a delicate mix of opportunities dictated by the calendar, physical condition and mental approach. It will win (better, it will arrive fourth) the one that will be able to float with greater lightness on the sea of traps scattered from here to 25 May.
State of form, morality, remaining calendar and habit to fight for this goal: here are the parameters chosen to try to make the cards to this sprint in which several direct clashes and other matches against the Serie A who are outside the fray remain to play, but which always represent probable commitments for anyone.
State of form: Rome and Bologna are better than the others
At the end of the season the physical condition begins to be a problem for everyone. All the contenders have faced the extra labors of Europe, albeit in a different form, and the effort is presenting the account. The starting point is that you play equal arms, the feeling is that someone has more petrol in the body and less injuries than others. Fly the Rome of Ranieri, who is showing a remarkable physical estate if it is true that he has played 48 games so far not by skimmering energy. Dybala’s injury risked being a handicap and, on the other hand, freed Soulé’s talent. Vote on the condition: 8 out of 10.
Also the Bologna of Italian is fine. The effort of the last match in Udine must not deceive because the Felsinei have released in previous weeks of dazzling brilliance for the opponents and have options on the bench to play multiple games inside the same. It is true that Ndoye’s ko takes away a central man for a while, but the overall condition is enough to try to exploit the chances: vote 7.
Half a step lower down the Juventus He runs, but has a non -trivial accident problem in defense. Tudor has also restored athletic lymph to the group, still lacks continuity of physical performance within the same game. The bianconeri light up and go out too often. VOTE: 6.5.
Just enough the Fiorentinathe only one who has yet to manage the European commitment since the Conference League semifinal against Betis has earned. Palladino has to manage the forces, which are not many: vote 6 less. In reserve it seems Lazio of Baroni and the inconstant trend of the last performance proves it.
Moral: the great run -up (not yet accomplished of Rome)
The head says Rome, without if and without but. Ranieri made a real miracle by putting up a team and an environment that were sliding towards the anonymity of a half -ranking season. The strip of 18 consecutive useful results (13 wins and 5 draws), the best 2025 of Serie A, heavy successes such as that of San Siro and a progressive rapprochement on that goal that seemed unrealistic: the Giallorossi travel on the wings of enthusiasm and are no longer born. On the contrary.
No one else can count on a similar abbivio, not even miraculous Bologna who risks the “tennis player” effect as happened even a year, when Thiago Motta put together a final of two wins in the last 8 before grabbing the fifth place that was worth the Champions League. Lazio is in depression and whistled by its fans, Fiorentina lives on the emotional swing of results without continuity with an environment that continually questioned itself, Juventus has experienced the fall of Parma as a frozen shower and looks anxious to the double trip to the house of Bologna and Lazio knowing that he did not have margins of error. And to be the one who risks most, if he were to be out.
Calendar: difficult for everyone, but …
Here you get to the heart of the challenge. There are at least three direct clashes and two concern the bianconeri, expected from Bologna and Lazio in rapid sequence. The Juventus Champions League sprint will depend a lot on the outcome of these comparisons but, in waterfall, those results will also influence the fate of the others. Nobody has a simple calendar, the difference will be able to make the details, including the scan of big matches.
The 35th day is that of Bologna-Juventus and Rome-Fiorentina, the 36th sees Lazio-Juventus and the 37th Fiorentina-Bologna scheduled. In addition, there are Atalanta on the Rome road, Inter for Lazio and Milan for Bologna and Rome. Without considering the intertwining with the race salvation that at the end of the season can make the whole difference in the world.
Habit: Juventus and Ranieri make themselves prefer
He will also weigh the habit of fighting for the Champions League. The “Braccino” risk of Bologna has been said and the same can be worth for Fiorentina who also has the pleasant distraction of a conference league to be chasing with ferocity: the goal is to return to the final to win it after the disappointments of the last two years. The two Romans and Juventus have no great differences because historically they know how to these heights are.
If anything, Ranieri is the most used to, while for Tudor and Baroni there is the unknown of the first time to compensate that the solidity of the respective environments. Juventus has the whole pressure of the world because those millions (many) are essential to avoid the new capital increase already made available by Elkann and having to leave again from scratch, or almost. The Friedkin, however, also look at the finish line never reached branching him to turn the future of Rome a turning point.
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