The regular season in the Italian Serie A1 enters its penultimate phase. The eight playoff teams are already known, as is the relegated team. Only the standings remain to be determined.
The playoff eight are set
Perugia, Verona, Trento, Modena, Piacenza, Civitanova, Milano and Monzawill play in the eliminations. Below the line, there is no team with a chance to enter the top eight. For the Bulgarian audience, the playoff part will also be interesting, due to the presence of three of our countrymen in it.
| Pos. | Team | Points | Matches | Wins | Losses | 3:0 | 3:1 | 3:2 | 2:3 | 1:3 | 0:3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perugia | 52 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Verona | 48 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Trento | 44 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 4 | Modena | 41 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | Piacenza | 40 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | Civitanova | 35 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 7 | Milano | 29 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 8 | Monza | 22 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 9 | Padova | 15 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| 10 | Cisterna | 14 | 20 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 11 | Cuneo | 14 | 20 | 4 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| 12 | Grottazzolina | 6 | 20 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
Monza is eighth and cannot be displaced or move up. In the playoffs, they will face the first-place team.
Remaining matches:
February 22: Monza – Milano
February 25: Civitanova – Monza
Grottazzolina is relegated
The last place is decided. After two seasons in Serie A1, the team from the Marche region is relegated. It will be interesting for us to see if the two Bulgarian national players, Georgi Tatarov and Iliya Petkov, will continue with the team next season. The question remains how the two will maintain their form until the first national team training camp, expected in early May.
Remaining matches:
February 22: Grottazzolina – Modena
February 25: Perugia – Grottazzolina
Perugia and Verona – the battle for first place
Perugia has 52 points, Verona – 48.
Perugia's remaining matches:
February 21: Verona – Perugia
February 25: Perugia – Grottazzolina
Verona's remaining matches:
February 21: Verona – Perugia
February 25: Modena – Verona
Perugia holds an advantage and a more favorable position. Verona has a chance to reduce the difference in a direct clash with Perugia at home, but after that, a tough away game in Modena awaits them.
Piacenza and Civitanova – the battle for fifth place
Piacenza has 40 points, Civitanova has 35.
Piacenza's remaining matches:
February 22: Piacenza – Trento
February 25: Padova – Piacenza
Civitanova's remaining matches:
February 22: Cisterna – Civitanova
February 25: Civitanova – Monza
If Piacenza gets at least two points total in these two matches, Civitanova cannot displace them from fifth place.
Civitanova and Milano – the possible, but difficult change
Civitanova has 35 points, Milano – 29.
Milano's remaining matches:
February 22: Monza – Milano
February 25: Milano – Cuneo
Milano can equal Civitanova in points only if they win both their matches with 3:0 or 3:1, and Civitanova must remain without a single point in the last two rounds. In case of a tie in points, Milano will have more wins and will move ahead.
In all other cases, Civitanova remains sixth.
The most interesting zone: places 2–3–4
2. Verona – 48 points
3. Trento – 44 points
4. Modena – 41 points
5. Piacenza – 40 points
Remaining matches:
February 21
Verona – Perugia
February 22
Piacenza – Trento
Grottazzolina – Modena
February 25
Modena – Verona
Padova – Piacenza
Trento – Cisterna
Everything is open here.
If Verona loses to Perugia and then in Modena, they could be caught by Trento.
If Trento wins in Piacenza, they directly enter the battle for second place.
If Modena achieves a full score against Grottazzolina and Verona, they could jump to third position.
Piacenza, with two wins, could also seriously impact the ranking.
The two points from the victory against Grottazzolina helped Trento maintain third position in the standings, with a 3-point advantage over Modena and 4 over Piacenza. The champions need three more points in the remaining two rounds to guarantee a podium spot. Right here, a 3:2 win or a 2:3 loss could reshuffle the entire scheme.
Conclusion
The eight playoff teams are clear.
Monza is confirmed in eighth place.
Grottazzolina is relegated.
Perugia is the favorite for the top spot.
Piacenza is close to fifth place.
The only real question mark at the bottom is whether Milano can displace Civitanova.
The main intrigue is in the standings between second and fourth place.
The last two rounds will not change the playoff participants, but they can completely reshuffle the quarter-final pairings – and in Italy, this often decides half the series even before the first serve.
