The safety playoff between Spezia and Verona, which will decree the last relegation to Serie B, will be played at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia Sunday 11 June at 8.45pm. This was officially communicated by Lega Serie A.
How the playoff works
To decide which will be the third team relegated from Serie A to B after Sampdoria and Cremonese, Verona and Spezia will therefore return to face each other in a single match, who finished their championship yesterday on equal points at 31 in the standings. A return to the past, given that starting this season the Lega Serie A has reintroduced the play-off to decide, in the event of the arrival of two teams on equal points, the fight for the Scudetto and that of salvation. No more direct clashes or goal difference, therefore, but a further challenge, to be played in a 90-minute one-off match, which in the event of a tie at the end of regulation time, will immediately include penalties, without overtime.
How did the play-off come about?
On the last day of the championship, both teams were defeated yesterday. Verona lost 3-1 at the San Siro against Milan, Spezia were defeated 2-1 in a comeback by Roma at the Olimpico, with a penalty scored in the 90th minute by Dybala. For most of the game, Semplici’s team toyed with the idea of ending the duel with Verona by scoring points against Roma. But the late goal put everything back on the line. So in the end both remained paired in the standings at 31 points. And now, everything will be played out in a direct clash that is worth staying in Serie A.
Relegation play-off, last time in 2005
The play-off to decide the last relegated team is nothing new for Serie A. The League has reintroduced it for this season and this further confrontation will immediately be used to decide who will remain in Serie A between Verona and Spezia. The last time this happened was 18 years ago. It was then Parma and Bologna who fought for their stay in Serie A, who faced each other in a two-way match at the end of the 2004/2005 season. First at the Tardini, then at the Dall’Ara. In the first leg in Parma Bologna won with goals from Tare but in the end it was Parma who celebrated, winning the second leg in Bologna 2-0 with goals from Cardone and Gilardino. After 18 years, the playoff returns to determine who will be relegated to Serie B.