• Both US Lecce and US Cremonese secured vital victories on the road during the penultimate round of fixtures
• Only one point now separates the two clubs ahead of the final 90 minutes of the season
• Cagliari Calcio guaranteed their Serie A status with a comeback win against Torino FC
• A relegation play-out remains possible if both teams finish level on 35 points
• All final day matches will kick off simultaneously to ensure fair competition

The fight for Serie A survival will go down to the final weekend after both US Lecce and US Cremonese claimed hard-fought victories away from home. The two clubs remain separated by a single point as they head into the last round of fixtures.

Meanwhile, Cagliari Calcio have secured their place in the top flight for next season. They came from behind to defeat Torino FC 2-1 this evening, guaranteeing their safety regardless of the final day’s results.

Cremonese entered the penultimate matchday sitting inside the relegation zone. They remain one point adrift of Lecce following tonight’s dramatic encounters.

Jamie Vardy scored the decisive goal as Cremonese secured a narrow 1-0 win at Udinese. The match remained tight until the final whistle, with the visitors holding on for three crucial points.

Lecce faced a tougher test away to Sassuolo. Walid Cheddira put the visitors ahead twice with a well-taken brace.

However, Sassuolo refused to give up. Armand Laurienté and Andrea Pinamonti both found the net to level the score on two separate occasions.

The decisive moment arrived deep into stoppage time. In the 96th minute, Nikola Stulic converted a knockdown from Omri Gandelman to seal a 3-2 victory for Lecce.

This sets up a tense final weekend. Cremonese will host Como 1907 at home, whilst Lecce welcome Genoa CFC to the Stadio Via del Mare.

A specific combination of results could force a relegation play-out. If Cremonese draw with Como and Lecce lose to Genoa, both teams will finish the campaign with 35 points.

This scenario would trigger a two-legged play-out to decide who stays in Serie A. The matches would be played home and away.

Lecce control their own destiny. A victory against Genoa will guarantee survival regardless of other results elsewhere.

Cremonese face a particularly difficult task. Their opponents Como are still chasing qualification for next season’s Champions League, meaning they will be highly motivated.

The league has confirmed that all remaining fixtures will be played simultaneously. This includes Cremonese versus Como, Lecce against Genoa, AC Milan versus Cagliari, Torino against Juventus, and Hellas Verona against AS Roma.

• Rafael Leao suspended for vital away trip to Genoa
• All top-four contenders kick off simultaneously at 11:00 BST
• Christopher Nkunku poised to start in attack for the Rossoneri
• Luka Modric returns to bench despite facial fracture
• Genoa host Milan in pivotal Champions League qualification clash

AC Milan visit Genoa on Sunday for a high-stakes Serie A encounter that could prove decisive in the race for Champions League qualification. Manager Massimiliano Allegri faces a selection headache with several key players unavailable for the early kick-off.

The match begins at 11:00 BST (12:00 local time) as part of a coordinated fixture schedule. League authorities arranged for all games involving Napoli, Juventus, Milan, Roma and Como to start at the same moment. This ensures fair competition during the crucial closing stages of the top-four battle. Officials also needed to avoid a clash with the Italian Open tennis final and the Rome derby, which share facilities.

Star winger Rafael Leao misses out through suspension after accumulating yellow cards. The Portugal international sits alongside Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan on the sidelines. Allegri looks set to hand Christopher Nkunku a starting role up front, while Zachary Athekame should cover at wing-back. Fikayo Tomori, Youssouf Fofana and Ardon Jashari are expected to return to the first team, reports Sky Sport Italia.

Croatian veteran Luka Modric may make a surprise appearance from the substitutes’ bench. The midfielder recently fractured his cheekbone, an injury that initially threatened to keep him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.

Predicted Genoa XI (3-5-2): Bijlow; Marcandalli, Otoa, Vasquez; Sabelli, Malinovskyi, Frendrup, Amorim, Ellertsson; Ekhator, Colombo.

Predicted AC Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Athekame, Fofana, Jashari, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Gimenez, Nkunku.

Fans can catch all the pre-match build-up, live commentary and post-match analysis via the Football Italia Liveblog.

• Christian Pulisic recovers from muscle injury and rejoins full squad training
• Rafael Leao, Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan all suspended for one match
• AC Milan have won only seven points from their last eight league fixtures
• Fikayo Tomori returns from suspension to strengthen the defence

United States captain Christian Pulisic has recovered from a muscle problem and returned to full training with AC Milan. The winger missed last Sunday’s 3-2 home defeat to Atalanta but is now available for selection ahead of the trip to face Genoa.

The Rossoneri remain in fourth position after a poor run of form. They have collected just seven points from their last eight Serie A matches, causing them to drop from second place. They currently share fourth spot with AS Roma.

Coach Sérgio Conceição faces a selection headache in attack. Star winger Rafael Leao, plus Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan, all received yellow cards against Atalanta. The trio must serve a one-match suspension.

Pulisic could start up front alongside Christopher Nkunku. This tactical switch follows an unsuccessful attempt to use Santiago Gimenez last weekend. The Mexican striker made his first start since November ankle surgery but the experiment failed to produce results.

There is positive news for the back line. England defender Fikayo Tomori returns from his one-match ban. There are also reports that young left-back Davide Bartesaghi has shaken off a knock he suffered against Atalanta.

Fixtures officials have not yet confirmed the exact date and kick-off time for the Genoa match. Serie A is currently experiencing scheduling chaos that has disrupted the calendar.

• Fiorentina secure Serie A survival with two games remaining following a 0-0 draw with Genoa CFC
• Paolo Vanoli’s side sets a new record by avoiding relegation despite failing to win any of their first 15 league matches
• The coach pays tribute to late club president Rocco Commisso, who passed away in January without meeting Vanoli in person
• Vanoli reveals discussions with club directors regarding future vision and confirms a contract extension option exists
• The Viola were bottom of the table with just four points when Vanoli replaced Stefano Pioli in November

Paolo Vanoli has paid an emotional tribute to the late Rocco Commisso after masterminding one of Serie A’s greatest ever escapes. The ACF Fiorentina coach revealed his side have entered the history books by securing their top-flight status despite failing to record a victory in their opening 15 league fixtures.

When the 52-year-old replaced Stefano Pioli on November 7th, the Viola were anchored to the bottom of the table with a meagre four points from ten games. The mission appeared impossible, but Sunday’s goalless stalemate against Genoa CFC guaranteed mathematical safety with two rounds remaining.

Vanoli dedicated this remarkable turnaround to the club’s former president, who passed away in the United States on January 17th following health complications. The American businessman never met his coach in person.

“The Commisso family has given so much to this city through Viola Park and the stadium projects,” Vanoli stated. “During this centenary year, I was determined to ensure our supporters had something to celebrate.”

The manager acknowledged that his players must accept greater responsibility moving forward, insisting the fans deserve a “completely different Fiorentina” next season. He emphasised that achieving survival with a squad he did not construct makes the accomplishment even more significant.

“No club in history has stayed up after going 15 matches without a win,” he explained. “This city deserves higher ambitions, but we had to solve the immediate crisis first.”

Looking ahead, Vanoli confirmed he has held constructive talks with general manager Cristiano Paratici and sporting director Nicolò Ferrari regarding the club’s organisational structure. His current deal includes an option for an extension, though the final decision rests with the board.

“We have reached our primary target,” Vanoli concluded. “Now I want to enjoy this moment, because it has been an incredibly hard slog.”

• Inter Milan have already secured their 21st league title with weeks to spare.
• Pisa and Hellas Verona are mathematically certain to finish in the bottom two.
• ACF Fiorentina, US Cremonese, US Lecce and Genoa CFC are fighting to avoid the final relegation spot.
• Poor defensive records plague the bottom six, with Pisa conceding 63 goals this campaign.
• The final three match weeks will decide which club joins the bottom two in the second tier.

While Inter Milan celebrate their Scudetto success, the real tension is at the foot of the table. Four sides are locked in a desperate struggle to secure their top-flight status for next season.

Pisa and Hellas Verona are already doomed. They will certainly play in Serie B next term. Between them, these two clubs have won fewer than five matches by mid-April. Such a poor points tally makes survival impossible.

The statistics reveal why these teams are struggling. Pisa have leaked 63 goals. This is the worst defensive record in the division. Verona have conceded 57 times. In attack, both teams have struggled to find the back of the net. Verona have scored just 24 goals, while Pisa have managed only 25 in 35 outings.

The other four candidates for the drop have shown more promise in front of goal. Genoa have hit 40 goals, while Fiorentina have netted 38 times. Cremonese have scored 27 and Lecce have managed 24. However, their defensive frailties remain a serious concern. Cremonese have let in 53 goals. Fiorentina have conceded 49, Genoa 48, and Lecce 47.

Data from Opta Analyst shows that Pisa, Verona and Genoa are conceding far more goals than expected. This metric is crucial when predicting the final outcome. Despite this, Genoa possess the quality and experience to climb out of trouble. They are a much stronger side than the bottom two.

The fixture list will play a huge role in the coming weeks. Eusebio Di Francesco’s men have recently faced Fiorentina, Verona and Pisa in successive weeks. They end their campaign with a clash against Genoa. They hope to secure safety before that final match kicks off.

Cremonese face a tougher run under manager Giampaolo. After playing Pisa in week 36, they must take on Napoli and Como. These are two of the strongest teams in the league. Cremonese will likely struggle to pick up points in those games. Therefore, they must win their other fixtures to stand a chance.

Fiorentina look the safest of the four. Their squad has more talent and financial backing than the others. However, they still face Genoa and other difficult opponents. They cannot afford to relax if they want to guarantee safety.

Genoa face Fiorentina in a crucial week 36 encounter. They are the underdogs for that match. They finish their season against Lecce in week 38. That final-day fixture could decide everything for one or both clubs. Alternatively, it might mean nothing if Cremonese are already down by then.

Cagliari could yet join this relegation dogfight. They are in poor form after losing to Inter Milan. If they continue to drop points, they might become the sixth team involved in the survival battle.

• Giacomo Raspadori smashed the crossbar as Atalanta failed to score for the third time in four league matches.
• Genoa guaranteed their Serie A status for next season despite registering only one shot on target during the entire match.
• Junior Messias suffered a late thigh injury that left the visitors effectively playing with ten men for the final minutes.

Atalanta dominated possession and created numerous chances but lacked the precision to secure victory against a resilient Genoa side at the Gewiss Stadium. The hosts entered the fixture desperate to recover from a dismal run that brought just one point from their previous three league outings, coupled with a painful Coppa Italia semi-final elimination against Lazio.

Manager Gian Piero Gasperini reshuffled his attacking options, handing a start to Nikola Krstovic alongside Gianluca Scamacca. Krstovic had netted twice in the recent defeat to Cagliari, but the squad suffered a significant blow with defender Lorenzo Bernasconi ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a serious knee ligament injury.

Genoa arrived in Bergamo knowing that a positive result would confirm their mathematical safety. The Grifone sat comfortably above the relegation zone despite a recent loss to Como. Goalkeeper Justin Bijlow shook off a muscular twinge to start between the posts, though creative midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi remained sidelined.

The opening stages saw both sides test the opposing keepers. Vitinha forced an early stop from the Atalanta goalkeeper, while Krstovic also went close with a snapshot. The Portuguese midfielder later threatened on the counter-attack, but a timely block from Lorenzo Colombo deflected his effort over the bar.

Atalanta carved out the clearer opportunities as the first half wore on. Ederson squandered a glorious chance when he failed to control Davide Zappacosta’s inviting pull-back from the left flank. Moments later, Charles De Ketelaere exchanged passes with Giorgio Scalvini before firing an angled drive that Bijlow almost allowed to squirm underneath him.

Genoa’s best moment arrived when Jeff Ekhator unleashed a powerful first-time strike, only for Scalvini to produce a magnificent block to preserve the deadlock. At the other end, Krstovic attempted a clever near-post flick from a set-piece, but the Dutch goalkeeper read the danger comfortably.

The second half continued in similar fashion with the home side pressing for the opener. Their best opportunity came in the 79th minute when substitute Raspadori unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the penalty area that crashed against the crossbar.

Earlier, the Italian international had wasted a golden chance to break the deadlock. Bijlow spilled a powerful long-range effort from Ederson, but Raspadori reacted to the loose ball by prodding it straight at the recovering goalkeeper rather than into the unguarded net.

Genoa’s task grew more difficult in the closing stages when winger Junior Messias pulled up with a thigh strain. With all substitutions already completed, the visitors were forced to see out the match practically a man down.

Deep into stoppage time, Atalanta had one final opportunity to snatch all three points. Ederson controlled a cleared corner on the edge of the area and curled a right-footed shot towards the top corner, but the ball grazed the crossbar and bounced away to safety.

The result leaves Atalanta frustrated in their pursuit of a top-four finish, while Genoa can officially plan for another campaign of top-flight football.

• Como 1907 hosted second-placed SSC Napoli in a crucial battle for Champions League qualification spots.
• Both teams employed high pressing tactics, creating numerous chances but failing to find the net in the early stages.
• Alex Zanardi, the legendary motorsport figure and Paralympian, was honoured with a minute’s silence before kick-off across all Serie A fixtures.

Italy’s top flight delivered an action-packed evening as the race for European places intensified. At the Stadio Sinigaglia, Como 1907 welcomed SSC Napoli for a fixture that carried significant weight in the battle for the top four.

The hosts, led by manager Cesc Fabregas, faced a stern test against Antonio Conte’s visiting side. The two tacticians, who previously worked together at Chelsea, renewed their rivalry on the touchline.

The match began after a touching tribute to Alex Zanardi. The former Formula 1 driver and Paralympic hero passed away suddenly at 59. Every ground in the division observed a minute’s silence to remember the inspirational figure.

From the first whistle, both outfits pressed aggressively high up the pitch. This approach forced mistakes at either end, though clear-cut opportunities remained scarce initially. Napoli’s Scott McTominay directed a header over the bar from a Kevin De Bruyne corner, while Como’s Nico Paz sparked a dangerous counter-attack with a brilliant turn in midfield.

The physical nature of the contest showed when Como’s Gabriel Perrone suffered a nasty facial injury. The midfielder received treatment for a bloody nose following an accidental clash with former Manchester City colleague De Bruyne.

Como created the clearest opening of the first period when Nico Paz threaded a pass through to Anastasios Douvikas. The striker rounded goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic but delayed his shot, allowing Amir Rrahmani to clear off the goal line.

Meanwhile, in the later fixture, Atalanta BC looked to bounce back from recent setbacks when they hosted Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa CFC at the Gewiss Stadium.

• Atalanta have failed to win any of their last four matches in all competitions.
• Genoa need three points to guarantee their safety from relegation.
• The match will be broadcast live on DAZN in the UK and Paramount+ in the USA.

Atalanta will face Genoa at the Gewiss Stadium on Saturday evening. Both teams need points for different reasons. The home side want to return to winning ways. The visitors hope to secure their place in the league next season.

Raffaele Palladino’s men have not won any of their last four matches. This poor form has dropped them to seventh place in the Serie A table. They now face a tough battle to qualify for the Conference League.

Daniele De Rossi’s team sit in 14th position. They are 11 points clear of the relegation zone with four games left. A victory against Atalanta would guarantee their safety. They could also survive if Cremonese do not beat Lazio on Monday.

Palladino will likely keep the same attacking players. Giacomo Raspadori, Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca should all start. However, there may be changes in defence and midfield. Reports suggest Isak Hien, Honest Ahanor and Marten De Roon could come in.

Genoa may also make changes after losing to Como last week. They might switch from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 system. Lorenzo Colombo could start alongside Jeff Ekhator in attack.

Predicted Genoa line-up (3-5-2): Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Zatterstrom; Sabelli, Frendrup, Amorim, Masini, Ellertsson; Ekhator, Colombo.

The match will be shown live on DAZN in the UK. US viewers can watch on Paramount+.