Serie A looks set to enjoy one of the most fascinating finishes to a season in some time, with the race for the Scudetto set to go down to the wire and whole host of teams in title contention.
Juventus’ dominance of the division was ended last season as Inter Milan were crowned champions, with Italian football as open as it has been for many a season in 2021/22.
As we reach the business end of the campaign, just seven points separate the top four sides in what promises to be a nail-biting conclusion to the season.
We’ve decided to look at how the bookmakers assess Serie A’s title race.
Atalanta – 250/1
Atalanta are a distant fifth in the bookmakers’ odds, having fallen adrift of the top four after an indifferent run of form.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s overachieving side have finished third in each of the past three seasons and have led the league for goals in each of those campaigns to become neutral’s favourites.
A GIF for THIS goal: #AtalantaJuve #SerieATIM ???? @Atalanta_BC ???? @malinovskyi18 pic.twitter.com/EevbeA2VVE
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 14, 2022
However, Atalanta have failed to build on that success and a run of just two wins from nine leaves them seven behind the top four and a huge 17 off the leaders.
Success in the Europa League – where the Italians will face RB Leipzig in the quarter-finals – looks their best route back into the Champions League.
Juventus – 12/1
Juventus’ near-decade of dominance ended last season following a difficult campaign, scraping into the Champions League places.
Max Allegri’s return as manager in the summer renewed optimism despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit, but a four-game winless run to start the season increased concerns their era of success was over.
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Mark off your calendars, Bianconeri! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/oCokzdtq0u
— JuventusFC ???????????????? (@juventusfcen) April 1, 2022
However, Juventus are unbeaten since November and no side has won more points across their last eight league fixtures, with the signing of Dusan Vlahovic in January galvanising the squad and issuing a statement of intent.
The Bianconeri have a seven-point gap to bridge to the league leaders and are outsiders to reclaim the Scudetto this season, but Juventus are riding a wave of momentum – their disappointing Champions League exit aside – as the season reaches its conclusion.
Napoli – 11/4
Napoli have been crowned as champions of Italy on just two previous occasions, with Diego Maradona inspiring the side to titles in 1987 and 1990.
Runners-up on three occasions in the past six seasons, there is hope this season that Napoli can end the club’s 32-year wait for a third Scudetto.
???????? Victor Osimhen is the first ever Nigerian to reach double figures in the scoring charts in two different Serie A seasons and is the fourth African player to achieve such a feat, along with George Weah, Samuel Eto'o and Mohamed Salah. ????
Super Victor! ????♂️???? #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/MbDPylQlmY
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) March 22, 2022
Luciano Spalletti’s side began the season with eight straight wins, before a challenging spell saw the side drop from the top of the table. Napoli have regrouped and have lost just one of their last 11 games, though that defeat came at the hands of table-topping AC Milan.
Three points behind the leaders at present, Napoli face testing fixtures against Atalanta and Roma in their next four and can ill-afford a stumble in a tight title race.
Victor Osimhen has found form with five goals in his last five games and Napoli will hope the Nigerian can continue firing the side towards title success.
Inter Milan – 9/5
Inter Milan looked to be heading towards a second successive Scudetto in late January, but defeat to AC Milan has led to a collapse from the defending champions.
Inter led their city rivals 1-0 with just 15 minutes to go, but Olivier Giroud’s brace turned the game around and has since led to a downturn in form that has opened up the title race.
???? | DUMFRIES @DenzelJMD2 is one of four defenders to have scored at least four goals and provided at least four assists in Europe's top five leagues this current campaign.#ForzaInter #InterFiorentina pic.twitter.com/0Peg3Pn9eu
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) March 20, 2022
Simeone Inzaghi’s side have won just one of their last seven, a run of results that leaves the Nerazzurri third, six points behind AC Milan with a game in hand on their rivals.
Eliminated from the Champions League last month, Inter travel to face Juventus this weekend in a clash that could define their season.
AC Milan – 13/10
Are AC Milan heading to a first league title since 2011?
The momentum appears to be with Milan whose delight in The Derby della Madonnina has propelled the Rossoneri towards the top of the table.
????️ "We need to raise our level to do something extraordinary" @fikayotomori_'s feelings ahead of Monday's matchup
????️ "Dobbiamo alzare il livello per fare qualcosa di eccezionale"
Le emozioni e la carica di Fik in vista di #MilanBologna#SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/KbQC4Vio1q— AC Milan (@acmilan) March 31, 2022
Stefano Pioli are unbeaten in eight and have won their last three games 1-0, the goals being shared around the squad with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao all tied on eight Serie A goals this season.
Milan boast a three-point cushion at the top of the table and have arguably the most straightforward run-in, meeting none of the current top four. Games against Atalanta, Roma and Sassuolo will prove testing, but Milan are in a strong position to end their wait for the Scudetto.
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