Serie A's top 4 Champions League battle: Roma, Milan to pip Inter, Atalanta?

Topics: TV Schedules, Roma, AC Milan, Atalanta, Inter, Serie A

The battle for a top four spot is heating up. Who will clinch it?

With Juventus already crowned champions of Serie A, and Napoli having to settle for the runners-up spot once again, that menas that there are only two spots left in terms of who will feature in the Champions League next season.

As things stand, there are four teams with a realistic shot: Inter, Atalanta, Roma, and AC Milan. Torino fans certainly will be desperate for their team to be included in this group, but the Granata sit in seventh spot, six points behind third placed Inter and it's hard to see how they will make up that gap with just a few games remaining. For that to happen, the teams ahead of them, including Roma and Atalanta, will have to really start to slip-up, and that's hard to see that happening.

What's in store for Inter, Atalanta, Roma, and Milan over the next few matchdays?

Here are the remaining fixtures for Inter, Atalanta, Roma, and Milan:

Where are Inter, Atalanta, Roma, and Milan presently in the table?

Here's where everyone finds themselves ahead of matchday 36:

Pos. Team MP W D L GF GA GD P Form
1 Internazionale 33 27 5 1 79 18 +61 86 WDWWD

2 Milan 33 21 6 6 64 39 +25 69 LDWWW

3 Juventus 33 18 10 5 47 26 +21 64 DDWLD

4 Bologna 33 17 11 5 48 26 +22 62 WDDWW

5 Roma 32 16 7 9 57 38 +19 55 LWDWD

6 Atalanta 32 16 6 10 59 37 +22 54 WDLWD

7 Lazio 33 16 4 13 42 35 +7 52 WWLWW

8 Napoli 33 13 10 10 50 41 +9 49 LDWLD

9 Fiorentina 32 13 8 11 45 36 +9 47 WDLLD

10 Torino 33 11 13 9 31 29 +2 46 DDLWW

11 Monza 33 11 10 12 35 43 -8 43 LDLLW

12 Genoa 33 9 12 12 35 40 -5 39 LDWDD

13 Lecce 33 8 11 14 30 48 -18 35 WWLDW

14 Cagliari 33 7 11 15 36 56 -20 32 DDWDL

15 Hellas Verona 33 7 10 16 31 44 -13 31 WDLDL

16 Empoli 33 8 7 18 26 48 -22 31 WLWLL

17 Udinese 32 4 16 12 30 48 -18 28 LLDLW

18 Frosinone 33 6 10 17 40 63 -23 28 DDDDL

19 Sassuolo 33 6 8 19 39 65 -26 26 LDDDL

20 Salernitana 33 2 9 22 26 70 -44 15 LLDLL

Pos.	Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	P	Form
1	Internazionale	33	27	5	1	79	18	+61	86	WDWWD
2	Milan	33	21	6	6	64	39	+25	69	LDWWW
3	Juventus	33	18	10	5	47	26	+21	64	DDWLD
4	Bologna	33	17	11	5	48	26	+22	62	WDDWW
5	Roma	32	16	7	9	57	38	+19	55	LWDWD
6	Atalanta	32	16	6	10	59	37	+22	54	WDLWD
7	Lazio	33	16	4	13	42	35	+7	52	WWLWW
8	Napoli	33	13	10	10	50	41	+9	49	LDWLD
9	Fiorentina	32	13	8	11	45	36	+9	47	WDLLD
10	Torino	33	11	13	9	31	29	+2	46	DDLWW
11	Monza	33	11	10	12	35	43	-8	43	LDLLW
12	Genoa	33	9	12	12	35	40	-5	39	LDWDD
13	Lecce	33	8	11	14	30	48	-18	35	WWLDW
14	Cagliari	33	7	11	15	36	56	-20	32	DDWDL
15	Hellas Verona	33	7	10	16	31	44	-13	31	WDLDL
16	Empoli	33	8	7	18	26	48	-22	31	WLWLL
17	Udinese	32	4	16	12	30	48	-18	28	LLDLW
18	Frosinone	33	6	10	17	40	63	-23	28	DDDDL
19	Sassuolo	33	6	8	19	39	65	-26	26	LDDDL
20	Salernitana	33	2	9	22	26	70	-44	15	LLDLL

Champions League (Group Stage)

Europa League (Group Stage)

Promotion - Europa Conference League (Qualification: )

Relegation - Serie B

Of the four teams, who is the most likely to clinch a top four spot?

Based on form alone, one would have to say Atalanta. La Dea have been simply impressive this term. They have not lost a game in Serie A since February 23, and led by Colombian striker Duvan Zapata, have surged into fourth place. Not bad for a team that took until October 21 to win their second game in Serie A after beating Frosinone on matchday one and at one point were hovering around the drop zone. They are also in the Coppa Italia final, meaning that Gian Piero Gasperini's side could cap off a fine season with a piece of silverware this term.

Playing Juventus is no easy feat, but Atalanta have already beaten the Bianconeri this campaign, thrashing them 3-0 in the quarter-finals in Bergamo. Now, they will have to face them in Turin - which is a tricky task as La Vecchia Signora are largely unstoppable at home, but Atalanta have shown they can match wits with the Serie A giants. Could they cause an upset at Allianz Stadium next round?

Inter shouldn't be discounted, either. They will have an easy home game against already-relegated Chievo as well as face relegation-threatened Empoli. The only tricky fixture is an away clash against Napoli, but if the Nerazzurri can get themselves out of their rut, which has seen them draw four of their last five games, they should be able to hang on to seal a top four berth.

Of the four teams, who is the least likely to clinch a top four spot?

Milan's less than impressive form could cost them dearly. At one point, the Rossoneri were a lock for a top four spot, but things went awry, and now they are looking up at Atalanta in the table. Although their remaining fixtures seem promising, who knows? Fiorentina are in bad form, but will be desperate to make amends in front of their home fans, and that game at the Stadio Artemio Franchi could be a banana peel for the Diavolo.

Hosting Frosinone - who have been already relegated - presents a great chance to pick up all three points. However, SPAL have proven to be a tricky customer this season and could throw a monkey wrench in Milan's plans by digging in to hang in for a draw - and draws are exactly what Milan doesn't need at the moment.

As for Roma, a clash with Juventus is always a daunting one, and they will need to manage this game carefully. In addition, Sassuolo tends to frustrate all the big sides, and although the Neroverdi have already secured safety for next term and are not going to secure any European football, they certainly would want to nick at least a point off Roma nonetheless. Furthermore, Roma have been less than consistent on the road, with six wins, six draws, and six defeats so far, in comparison to their solid home record, which has seen them lose just twice at the Stadio Olimpico (W10 D5). Overall, though, the Lupi, who changed managers mid-way throughout, may have left it too late to sneak into the top four.