The Italian Serie A changed its rules ahead of last season. Head-to-head meetings and goal difference were scrapped, which meant that if two teams at the bottom finished on the same points after 38 league rounds, they would meet in a relegation qualifier.
The winner gets to play on in Serie A – the loser goes down to Serie B.
And it really happened that way this season. Both Spezia and Hellas Verona finished on 31 points and on Sunday night they faced each other on neutral ground.
A Spezia, with national team star Albin Ekdal on the bench, and an injured Emil Holm, went straight into a cold shower when Davide Faraoni gave Verona the lead after just five minutes.
But the home team came back quickly when Ethan Ampadu equalized after just over a quarter of an hour played.
After that, Verona – with another Swedish national team star in the starting eleven – Isak Hien – pressed for a lead goal, and then it came.
Within the space of just over ten minutes, Cyril Ngonge had scored two goals and Verona led 3–1.
In the second, Spezia had several great chances, and the closest came M’Bala Nzola whose penalty was far too loose and poorly struck.
The match ended 3–1 to Verona, who are allowed to continue playing in Serie A.