The relegation zone is full of battles with three matchdays to go, therefore an equal points finish is probable.
What would happen?
If two teams arrive on equal points in third-last place, a play-off will decide who will remain in A and who will be relegated to B. An important change compared to last year, the play-off will not be played in one single match but in two home and away matches (the better in head-to-head matches will play the return match at home). In case of a draw, penalty kicks without extra time.
Last year a play-off decreed the relegation of Spezia, defeated 3-1 by Verona.
If three or more teams arrive on equal points, there will still be two teams playing for the play-off . The separate ranking in the head-to-head matches is considered (in the event of a further tie, the goal difference in the head-to-head matches, then the general goal difference, the number of goals scored and, finally, in the case of a further tie, the draw): the best, or the best (in the case of four teams on equal points) remain in the top division, the last two in this separate ranking are all played out in the play-off .
Another possibility: if three teams finish tied in penultimate place, the last of these in the separate rankings is relegated. The other two play the play-offs .
(Unioneonline/L)