CREMONA, ITALY – MAY 10: Jamie Vardy of US Cremonese celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Pisa SC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on May 10, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
The Serie A race for survival still involves three clubs, Cremonese, Lecce and Cagliari, and the last team dropping to Serie B could be determined by a relegation play-off: here are all the possible scenarios.
Serie A Round 36 saw Jamie Vardy’s Cremonese earn three points over direct rivals Lecce and Cagliari.
Cremonese defeated Pisa 3-0 on Sunday, with Vardy scoring the opening goal, while Lecce lost 1-0 to Juventus and Cagliari lost 2-0 to Udinese.
Cremonese still sit 18th, but just one point below Lecce and six from Cagliari. The Sardinians are by far the better-placed team in the race for survival, needing just one point to confirm their Serie A status.
If all three teams finish level on points, the Classifica Avulsa will determine the better-placed team, only considering matches against direct opponents.
Once again, it would be Cagliari emerging on top with seven points earned against Lecce (six) and Cremonese (four).
If just two teams finish with the same number of points, the relegated team will be determined by a relegation play-off played over two legs.

The team with a better head-to-head record would play the second leg at home.
Cremonese would play the decider at home against Lecce, having a better head-to-head record against the Giallorossi, but would be the visitors in the second leg against Cagliari, who secured one win and one draw against Vardy’s side during the regular season.
Lecce, on the other hand, have a better head-to-head record than Cagliari following a 2-0 win and a 2-1 loss, so they’d play the second leg at home if they were to finish level on points with the Sardinians.
The third and last relegated team will join Pisa and Verona in Serie B.

Serie A race for survival: all the scenarios
Cremonese, Lecce and Cagliari finish level on points – Lecce and Cremonese would play a relegation play-off (second leg at Cremonese), Cagliari safe.
Cremonese and Lecce finish level on points – relegation play-off, second leg at Cremonese.
Lecce and Cagliari finish level on points – relegation play-off, second leg at Lecce.
Cremonese and Cagliari finish level on points – relegation play-off, second leg at Cagliari.
Serie A race for survival – remaining fixtures
Week 37
Udinese vs. Cremonese
Sassuolo vs. Lecce
Cagliari vs. Torino
Week 38
Lecce vs. Genoa
Milan vs. Cagliari
Cremonese vs. Como
Serie A table
Qualification for the Champions League league stage
Qualification for the Europa League league stage
Qualification for the Conference League play-off round

















