the challenge to remain in A-Corriere.it

Reintroduced this season by Lega Serie A (until last year they looked at direct matches), already a play-off to avoid relegation between Marco Zaffaroni’s Verona, defeated 3-1 at San Siro by Milan (penalty from Giroud and two goals from Rafael Leao), and Spezia, who collapsed in the final at the Olimpico against Roma (2-1, the penalty converted by Dybala was fatal). They both finished with 31 points and now it will be necessary to play a direct match to decide who will stay in Serie A.

It will happen in six days, Sunday 11 June. Venue and time yet to be determined. For today, Monday 5 June, a League Council has been specially convened: there are four hypotheses on the cities and stadiums that will host the play-off. That is Udine, Florence, Lecce and Reggio Emilia. The match between Verona and Spezia will be played in a single match: there will be no return match. In the event of a tie in regular time, there will be no extra time, but penalties directly.

However, the play-off to decide the last relegated team is not new for Serie A. The last time it happened was 18 years ago. Playing for their stay in Serie A, then they were Parma and Bologna, who met in a two-legged tie at the end of the 2004-05 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. And now it’s up to Verona and Spezia.