How Serie A’s last Champions League spot could be decided by random draw | OneFootball

With only 90 minutes of Serie A football remaining, Juventus, Lazio, and Roma are the only teams still in contention for the fourth and final Champions League spot. However, an extremely unlikely scenario could see two of them finish level on points, with a random draw becoming the only possible way to decide who qualifies for Europe’s top competition.

Juventus’ 2-0 win over Udinese lifted them two points clear of Lazio, who drew 2-2 with Inter, while maintaining a one-point lead over Roma, who beat Milan 3-1.

ROME, ITALY – MAY 10: Matias Vecino of Lazio celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Matteo Guendouzi during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on May 10, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

The Bianconeri can secure Champions League qualification by winning their final match away at Venezia. However, dropping points could open the door for their rivals to either leapfrog them or pull level in fourth place.

Serie A: the only scenario that could force random draw for the last Champions League spot

According to Serie A rules, head-to-head points are the first tiebreaker when teams finish level. But if Roma and Juventus end up with the same number of points, this criterion wouldn’t settle it, as their two meetings this season ended in a perfect balance (0-0 and 1-1).

In that case, the ranking would be determined—by order of priority—through head-to-head goal difference, overall goal difference in the league, and goals scored. All of these could potentially be identical if Juventus lose to Venezia by three goals and Roma draw, scoring one more goal than Juve.

For instance:

ROME, ITALY – MAY 18: Gianluca Mancini of AS Roma scores his team’s first goal past Mike Maignan of AC Milan during the Serie A match between AS Roma and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on May 18, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

As explained by Sky Sport Italia, in such a case, a random draw—conducted at the Lega Serie A headquarters in Milan—would be required to determine which team qualifies for next season’s Champions League.

The names of the two clubs would be placed in a ballot box and drawn by Lega Serie A president Ezio Simonelli in a private event.