The 2024–25 Serie A season is coming to an end, and the battle for relegation is serving fans what they’ve not witnessed in many years. It has never been this tight at the bottom of the table.
So far, Monza are the only side to have been relegated officially following an up-and-down campaign, while Empoli, Lecce, Venezia, and Verona are all very much within the mix. It all comes down to the final day to decide who among these sides can escape and who is destined for Italy’s second tier.
Empoli
Everything depends on the final day for Empoli. They have been wildly inconsistent of late, with moments of attacking scintillation immediately followed by lapses in defense. They currently languish in 18th spot, just beneath the safety line. They face Verona as their last fixture, which cannot end in a deadlock, as Verona are also fighting for survival. Coach Davide Nicola will want his charges to be at their best in this must-win tie, as a draw will not be enough. For the bettor out there, there is no better time to place your bets. You can get Italian Serie A predictions from Sportytrader, as well as predictions for matches in other European leagues.
Lecce
Lecce are by no means safe. Their goal difference, though, sees them as the most vulnerable of the team, not in the bottom three heading into the final act. They have an opportunity this week against a mid-table team with little left to play for, and that will give them some hope. But Lecce needs a victory, and for results elsewhere to go in their favor. However, anything less and they risk being caught in the slipstream. This may well be the club’s biggest game in years, and their front three, spearheaded by fickle but immaculate striker Nikola Krstović, has to deliver.
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Venezia
It has been up and down for Venezia since their return to Serie A, but their inability to defend and inconsistent away form have put them in serious danger. They take on a top-half side chasing European football with only one game left to play. They need to win, but also need a lot of other results to go their way to survive. They cannot afford to lose or do anything but draw, really, without being all but sunk, with a win giving them a glimpse of hope. Led by the likes of Tanner Tessmann and Joel Pohjanpalo, they will have to be near-perfect to beat the drop.
Verona
Indeed, of the teams left in the relegation battle, Verona is arguably in the best place. They are currently just above the bottom three and have the advantage of facing Empoli, one of their direct competitors, this weekend. They are guaranteed survival with a win, and only need a point if Lecce and Venezia also struggle. A mini-revival for Verona, courtesy of important points gained against Lazio and Torino, has provided fans with some optimism of late. Coach Marco Baroni has steadied the ship at an important moment, and the squad will be eager to tie up the job.
Possibility of a Relegation Playoff
Starting from the 2022–23 season, Serie A now uses a relegation playoff to settle 17th and 18th place, so if two teams finish the season on the same number of points, they’ll battle it out for who remains in the top flight. Considering how close the bottom sides are, where quite literally few points separate them, this is a possibility that could create a heart-pounding finish to the campaign.
With the last weekend of Serie A here with us, the relegation battle is reaching fever pitch. Monza are already down; the fight to avoid going with them involves several teams embroiled in an intense, must-win battle. A couple of restarts come with make-or-break moments for Empoli, Lecce, Venezia, and Verona, meaning a nail-biting season finale is about to go down.
