Serie A title race between Napoli and Inter goes to final day and possibly further

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MILAN (AP) — The fight for the Serie A title will go into the final day, and maybe even further.

Napoli could have clinched its second Italian league title in three years on Sunday but will have to wait after both Antonio Conte’s team and second-placed Inter Milan were held to draws.

League leader Napoli drew 0-0 at relegation-threatened Parma, and Inter drew 2-2 against Champions League-chasing Lazio to remain one point behind Napoli.

Napoli hosts Cagliari in the final round, while defending champion Inter visits Como.

If they finish level on points, a playoff will be needed to decide the destination of the league title.

Apart from the title fight, there was still almost everything else to play for in Serie A. That was why all but one of the 10 matches in the penultimate round kicked off simultaneously on Sunday.

Under pressure

Inter was perhaps under the most pressure of the two rivals as it knew a loss would hand Napoli the title if the leader won at Parma.

Yann Bisseck was both hero and villain at San Siro. He scored the opener in first-half stoppage time but also gave away a late penalty to allow Lazio to snatch the draw that took the title fight out of Inter’s hands.

Pedro had scored the first equalizer for Lazio in the 72nd minute before Denzel Dumfries headed Inter back in front seven minutes later.

That result would have sent Inter top of the table and left the Nerazzurri in control of their destiny.

However, Lazio was awarded a penalty when it was adjudged — on video review — that Bisseck had blocked Taty Castellanos’ volley with his arm.

Pedro converted in the final minute.

Inter thought it had snatched the win deep in stoppage time but Marko Arnautovic’s header was ruled out for offside.

Coaches dismissed

Both Inter and Napoli coaches were sent off during the VAR check for the penalty. Conte and his counterpart were also sent off in Parma as there was late drama in their match too.

Napoli was initially awarded a penalty in stoppage time for a presumed foul by Mathias Løvik on David Neres but it was revoked on video review.

Napoli also hit the woodwork three times.

A quarter of the coaches in Serie A could be watching their team’s final match from the stands as Milan’s Sérgio Conceição will also most likely be given a one-match ban after being shown a red card as well.

Fight for fourth

Three teams are separated by two points in the fight for fourth place and the final Champions League spot.

Juventus moved into fourth with a 2-0 win over Udinese on Sunday. It is a point ahead of Roma, which beat 10-man AC Milan 3-1, and two points above Lazio.

Juventus visits relegation-threatened Venezia on the final day, while Roma travels to Torino and Lazio hosts Lecce, which will also be fighting for Serie A survival.

Elsewhere, Fiorentina beat Bologna 3-2.

Serie A survival

Cagliari is mathematically safe from relegation, but it’s down to the wire for Hellas Verona, Parma, Empoli, Lecce and Venezia.

And that could also go to a playoff.

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Venezia is currently second from bottom after its 3-0 loss at Cagliari but, on 29 points, is only two below Lecce (31) and Empoli (31).

Lecce beat Torino 1-0 and Empoli came from behind to win 3-1 at already-relegated Monza.

Parma (33 points) is only two points above the drop, with Verona a further point ahead after drawing 1-1 against Como.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer