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Serie A’s top four race is everything we hoped the Premier League’s would be

Four teams will fight it out for the last two Champions League spots on the final day

Everything is just that bit better in Italy.

Better weather, better cars, better food and even better haircuts.

And our continental friends have only gone and got themselves a better top-four race too.

He doesn’t look like a ‘Steve Bruce,’ does he?

AFP
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He doesn’t look like a ‘Steve Bruce,’ does he?

For the best part of two months, we looked set for a final-day shootout to see who would get the third and fourth spots in the Premier League.

Arsenal and Man United limped out of the race, making the top-four battle on the final day the dampest of all the squibs, with Spurs and Chelsea already safely through.

Things on the final day in Italy are set to be far more dramatic.

Hands up for the Europa League

AFP or licensors
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Hands up for the Europa League

The four teams in question are Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma and the unlikely candidates, Atalanta.

And it’s the underdogs currently sitting in third place on 66 points, ahead of Inter on goal difference.

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AC Milan are stuck one point and one place behind their city rivals on 65, while Roma are the back markers on 63 points.

Leeds taking flack from all angles

AFP or licensors
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Leeds taking flack from all angles

Atalanta were 1-0 up against Juventus on Sunday evening and were ten minutes away from a guaranteed top-four finish.

But the already crowned Old Lady managed to equalise late on to keep Atalanta in reach of the chasing pack.

Their final game of the season is home to tenth place Sassuolo, victory then and they will be playing Champions League football for the first time in their history.

No pressure then.

Atalanta were only ten minutes away from the promised land

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Atalanta were only ten minutes away from the promised land

Hoping that Atalanta do slip up are the 2010 Champions League winners, Inter.

The Black and Blues lost 4-1 away at Napoli on Sunday night which dragged them right into the thick of the melee.

Inter’s final game could be a tripping hazard as Empoli are sitting one point above the relegation zone and have won their last three games.

Inter and Milan both have European heritage

EPA
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Inter and Milan both have European heritage

Milan pray for Inter defeats every week, this week there will be a queue from the Vatican to the San Siro as The Rossoneri’s hopes of Champions League football may hinge on Inter’s result.

They sit just one point behind the third and fourth spot so know that victory away to SPAL on the final day and a mistake from one of the two ahead of them will see them slide into the top four.

Roma require some serious tinkering to get top four

Getty Images - Getty
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Roma require some serious tinkering to get top four

Roma missed the chance to keep in touching distance of the pack when they drew against Sassuolo on Saturday.

It means they need something of a miracle to finish fourth.

Claudio Ranieri is a man who knows a thing or two about miracles, just ask Leicester City.

His best hope is if both Milan and Inter lose their final games and his side beat Parma by a decent margin.

Inter’s goal difference is six superior to the men from the Capital.

At least we had a better title race

Getty - Contributor
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At least we had a better title race

While Juventus walked their way to their eighth consecutive title, the top four race is still mouth-wateringly tight.

The fight for Europe’s top competition is set to be the photo finish we all wished it had been in England.
All the action takes place on Sunday evening.

Watch this space…


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