The penultimate matchday of an enthralling 2021/22 Serie A season is in the books, and yet still so much is up for grabs as we approach the final weekend of the campaign.
The melodrama will continue until the last with Milan and Inter failing to blink on Matchday 37 as Lazio secured a berth in next season’s Europa League in dramatic fashion after both AS Roma and Fiorentina failed to win.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s rebound at the death saw Maurizio Sarri’s side come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Juventus on an emotional Monday night in Turin.
The fates of two sides were sealed down at the bottom, meanwhile, which means that the survival dogfight will also persist into the final day.
2021/22 Serie A Matchday 37 round-up
Here’s a round-up of all the action across Serie A on Matchday 37 of the 2021/22 season.
Milan & Inter hold their nerve
This Theo Hernández fella is unreal! 😱
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 15, 2022
Runs through the entire Atalanta squad and slots home Milan's second.
Is that the goal that seals the title? 🏆 pic.twitter.com/z6MsbhrSsO
So, yeah, Theo Hernandez did that.
His Milan side were edging a tense contest with Atalanta 1-0 thanks to another strike from emerging superstar Rafael Leão before he embarked on a run and finish that’ll go down in Rossoneri folklore should they get the job done next week.
Hernandez picked up possession on the edge of his box and fiercely drove through the heart of Atalanta’s midfield before beating a succession of white shirts just outside the Atalanta area. His relentlessness persisted as he worked the shooting opportunity, concluding the memorable sequence with a precise finish across Juan Musso.
It was a solo run and goal that resembled George Weah’s opening day strike against Hellas Verona in the same iconic stadium 26 years ago. Only Weah’s finish pales in comparison to Hernandez’s, which edged Milan closer to their first Scudetto since 2011.
However, Inter ensured that the title will be decided next Sunday evening as they prevailed away at Cagliari on Sunday. Lautaro Martinez scored twice in a 3-1 victory for Simone Inzaghi’s Coppa Italia victors.
Fiorentina crumble at Sampdoria
Lazio had been buoyed by the results of their rivals ahead of Monday night’s draw with Juventus. The point was enough for the Biancocolesti to secure a place in next season’s Europa League after AS Roma, Fiorentina and Atalanta all dropped points on Matchday 38.
Fiorentina collapsed in remarkable fashion at the Luigi Ferraris as they succumbed to a 4-1 battering at the hands of Sampdoria.
La Viola remain on 59 points with Atalanta heading into the final day, while Roma sneaked ahead despite only mustering a point at home to Venezia. The Giallorossi were dominant in the 1-1 draw, but they were unable to claim all three points.
Venezia & Genoa relegated
The Venetians tried their utmost to take the fight to the last as David Okereke scored in the opening minute at the Olimpico. However, their charge was compromised by Sofian Kiyine’s sending off in the first half and their admirable resistance was broken by a rare Eldor Shomuroduv goal with 15 minutes remaining.
Venezia were able to hold off defeat despite Roma’s staggering haul of 46 shots, but a point wasn’t enough to preserve their position in Serie A for next season.
They’ll be joined in Serie B by Genoa, who were beaten 3-0 on Lorenzo Insigne’s Napoli farewell. Insigne joined Victor Osimhen and Stanislav Lobotka on the scoresheet to consign Alexander Blessin’s side to the second tier for the first time in 15 years.
Cagliari, meanwhile, are just about still alive despite falling at home to Inter. Salernitana’s draw at Empoli means the Sardinians could yet stay up as they host Venezia next Sunday. However, they’ll need a favour from Udinese, who take on Davide Nicola’s side in Salerno.
Best of the rest
Spezia had earlier confirmed their place in next season’s top-flight after they beat Udinese 3-2 on the road.
Sassuolo were at their free-flowing best in a 3-1 triumph over Bologna. Gianluca Scamacca scored twice for the Neroverdi to take his Serie A goal tally up to 13 for the season as Domenico Berardi notched his 14th assist of the league campaign before he doubled Sass’ lead with a stunning acrobatic effort.
Torino, though, kept their noses ahead of Alessio Dionisi’s men in the table after they beat Hellas Verona 1-0. Josip Brekalo scored the game’s only goal and it’ll likely be his last for Il Toro. The Croatian isn’t keen on staying in Turin for the 2022/23 campaign despite impressing under Ivan Juric on loan this season.