Serie A

The final reckoning: Lecce and Cremonese face a decisive final day

A dramatic final round of the season awaits. Lecce host Genoa with a one-point advantage over Cremonese, who take on Como. In the background, the possibility of a relegation play-off still looms.

One final stop. Only two teams remain in the battle for survival: Lecce and Cremonese, both desperate to preserve their Serie A Enilive status for another season. Verona and Pisa have already been relegated, leaving one final spot still to be decided and no more second chances. Just 90 minutes remain – the final 90 of the season – to shape their future. Lecce will have the chance to do it at home in front of their own supporters, defending a precious one-point lead in their clash with Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa. Cremonese, meanwhile, must beat Como at the Stadio Zini and then hope for favourable news from the Via del Mare.

The Salento side’s survival push

View this post on Instagram

96th minute of Sassuolo v Lecce: amid a scramble in the box, Gandelman nodded the ball on and Stulic turned it in to restore the Giallorossi’s lead. A goal that changed everything. With one matchday remaining, Di Francesco’s side moved up to 35 points, while Giampaolo’s team stayed behind on 34 despite Vardy’s strike at Udinese’s Bluenergy Stadium.

One stoppage-time goal and the entire landscape shifted. Lecce stayed out of the relegation zone and have their destiny in their own hands. The Giallorossi have the chance to secure survival in front of their own fans, with Lecce v Genoa offering them the opportunity to seal a fifth consecutive season in the top flight.

The final act of the 2025/26 season will take place on home soil, a setting that brings both opportunity and risk, where emotions will need to be carefully managed. Sunday evening’s opponents secured safety weeks ago and head into the final round with little left to play for in terms of the standings. Yet Daniele De Rossi’s side showed against AC Milan that they are still prepared to battle regardless of circumstance, fighting until the final whistle in their attempt to avoid defeat at the Luigi Ferraris.

Looking at the key players, Di Francesco is expected to have almost a full squad available, with only Berisha and Sottil as absentees. With virtually everyone at his disposal, he will be hoping to channel the confidence and momentum built from the 3-2 win in Reggio Emilia. A particularly positive sign has been the strikers’ return to goals: Cheddira scored a brace against his former club on Sunday, while Stulic has hit form at just the right time. Falcone and his teammates are putting the finishing touches in place, with the squad working to arrive at the decisive test in peak condition. Di Francesco is dreaming of the perfect night: one victory stands between the coach from Pescara and his major objective.

Do or die at the Zini

Cremonese vs. Como, with a radio in hand and everything on the line. The mountain to climb is steep, the slope breathless. The Grigiorossi have taken six points from their last two games, beating Pisa and Udinese, but even that may not be enough.

Fabregas arrives on the banks of the Po with clear intent: the Champions League race remains alive, and Como know there is still a slim chance of qualifying for Europe’s elite competition. The circumstances do little to help Marco Giampaolo’s side, even if he is determined to get every last drop out of his squad.

Form is on Cremonese’s side, and the “nothing to lose” mindset will be crucial heading into this clash. The Vardy–Bonazzoli partnership remains the focal point, with pace out wide driving their counter-attacks. Cremonese will look to produce a performance built on sacrifice, work rate and transitions. The plan may well be to stay compact, draw Como out, and force them into taking risks as the minutes go by. Counter-attacks in open space could prove crucial to the result. Nevertheless, that scenario only really matters if Lecce slip up. One thing is certain: Cremonese cannot afford to lose their heads — because if Lecce lose, even a draw would still keep the story alive.

Survival scenarios and the potential play-off

Lecce would secure safety in the following cases:

Victory against Genoa
Draw against Genoa, with Cremonese drawing or losing against Como
Defeat against Genoa, with Cremonese losing against Como

Cremonese would secure safety only in the following case:

Victory against Como, with Lecce drawing or losing against Genoa

In the event that the teams finish level on points, a relegation play-off would be required. For this to happen, Lecce would need to lose against Genoa, while Cremonese would need to draw against Como. This scenario would leave both teams on 35 points, making a play-off necessary to decide their fate.

The system was introduced in the 2022/23 season and has only been used once. That match took place on 11 June 2023 at a neutral venue, the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, where Spezia faced Verona, with the latter winning 3-1.

However, since the 2023/24 season, the rules have changed: in the event of a play-off, the tie is now decided over two legs, home and away, with extra time and penalties if required.