Serie A Table

Italian Serie A

Serie A is the professional football league, the top division of the Italian football league system, is one of the strongest football divisions in the world, ranking third in the UEFA coefficient table after the Spanish and English championships (as of 2021). In 2020, Serie A was recognized as the strongest football league in the world by IFFHS. The Serie A winner places a scudetto on his uniform and also receives a trophy. This tournament was founded in 1898, then the competition was held in groups, divided according to the regional principle, but since 1929 Serie A changed its format, since then the participating teams play in a circular system. The official sponsor of the tournament is Telecom Italia Mobile, which is why Serie A is officially called Serie A TIM (Italian Serie A TIM). The last winner of the tournament is Internazionale.

Format

Since the 2004/2005 season, 20 teams have taken part in Serie A. During the football season (from August to May), each of the clubs meets twice with the other: one game takes place in the arena of the first, the other, respectively, of the second. Thus, the club plays 38 matches per season (19 in the 1st round, andata, and 19 in the 2nd, ritorno). The sequence of meetings in both circles is identical.

Clubs receive three points for a win and one for a draw. No points are awarded for a defeat. If the teams scored the same number of points, the places are distributed according to the results of the meetings between them. If this indicator does not allow determining the places occupied by the teams, they are distributed according to the best difference between goals scored and conceded. If this indicator is equal, the higher place is taken by the team on whose account there are more goals scored. If their number is equal, a drawing of lots is appointed.

At the end of each season, the club with the most points is declared the winner. Three teams located at the very end of the standings (that is, those who took 18th, 19th, 20th places) move to Serie B. 4 clubs that took places from 1st to 4th qualify for the Champions League ... 5th and 6th places give the right to play in the Europa League. Third in the Europa League qualifies the club that won the Italian Cup. But if the winner of the Italian Cup has already received the right to participate in the Champions League or the Europa League through the championship, then the ticket is given to the 7th team of the championship.