The Serie A, Italy’s top professional football league, meticulously tracks team performance using a detailed tournament table (турнирная таблица in Russian). This table is the definitive ranking system, dictating not only the champion but also qualification for prestigious European competitions and, unfortunately, relegation to Serie B.
How Points are Awarded
The foundation of the Serie A table is a simple points system:
- Win: 3 points
- Draw: 1 point
- Loss: 0 points
Teams accumulate points throughout the season based on the results of their matches. The team with the most points at the end of the season is crowned the Scudetto winner.
Determining Rank
Teams are primarily ranked in the table by their total points. However, ties in points are common, especially when crucial European qualification spots are at stake. In these situations, Serie A employs a tie-breaking system:
- Head-to-head record: Results of the matches played *between* the tied teams. This prioritizes performance against direct rivals.
- Head-to-head goal difference: Goal difference from the matches played *between* the tied teams.
- Overall goal difference: The overall difference between goals scored and goals conceded across all matches in the season.
- Total goals scored: The total number of goals scored throughout the entire season.
- Draw: If the above criteria still fail to break the tie, a play-off match (or potentially a mini-tournament) may be held to determine the final ranking, particularly for Champions League qualification or relegation battles. This is rare.
European Qualification
A high finish in the Serie A table brings significant rewards beyond the championship title. The top teams qualify for the following UEFA club competitions:
- Champions League: Typically, the top four teams qualify for the Champions League group stage.
- Europa League: The fifth-placed team and the winner of the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) usually qualify for the Europa League group stage. If the Coppa Italia winner has already qualified for the Champions League, the Europa League spot goes to the next highest-ranked team in the Serie A table.
- Europa Conference League: The sixth-placed team typically qualifies for the Europa Conference League playoff round.
Relegation
At the opposite end of the table, the bottom three teams face the consequence of relegation to Serie B. They are replaced by the top three teams from Serie B for the following season.
The Importance of the Table
The Serie A table is more than just a list of teams and their points. It is a living document that reflects the competitive nature of the league, the form of individual teams, and the high stakes involved. Each match holds significant weight, impacting not only a team’s position in the table but also their financial prospects, European aspirations, and long-term future.