Scott McTominay’s stunning Serie A season could culminate in a first playoff to win the Scudetto in 60 years.

The former Manchester United star scored the only goal in Napoli’s 1-0 win over Monza to leave his new club level at the top of the table.

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The Naples-based side are sharing the lead in Serie A with manager Antonio Conte‘s former club, Inter Milan, on 71 points with five games to play.

The two Italian giants could very feasibly still be deadlocked at this stage next month, considering the fixtures each has left.

Both Napoli and Inter boast perfect winning records from the reverse Serie A fixtures from their five remaining top-flight opponents.

Should their records mirror each other again after May 25, then the Scudetto will be decided by a playoff for the first time in six decades, rather than more conventional means.

In the Premier League, clubs that finish with the same points total determine their position chiefly by goal difference.

If that is also level, then it is followed by head-to-head records, first by points, then away goals in the two fixtures and so on.

However, in Italy, a better goal difference would only see that team earn home advantage for the one-off game.

Head-to-head records had also been used as the first tiebreaker for the Serie A title before playoffs were introduced from the 2022/23 season onwards.

Since then, only clubs facing relegation have been involved in a post-season fixture to decide their futures.

Ten-man Verona beat Spezia 3-1 on neutral turf in a one-off match in June 2023 to preserve their Serie A status.

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The Scudetto has only ever been decided by a playoff once before in 1964, and ironically, it was Inter who were on the losing side.

The Nerazzurri, who would have been champions had head-to-head records been the first tiebreaker, fell to a 2-0 defeat to Bologna.

It was another loss to Bologna on Sunday, which meant the Serie A leaders failed to put daylight between themselves and Napoli.

Substitute Riccardo Orsolini scored a stunning 94th-minute scissor kick to hand Inter their third defeat in their past six away league ties.

Meanwhile, McTominay’s tenth goal for Napoli the day before took his new club level on points with Inter to set up a dramatic run-in.

“I still believe that something spectacular can happen,” the Scot declared to Italian outlet, Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

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“We can’t panic now,” he added. “We have to realise where we are, and what we’re doing.”

“And then try to make the most of the position we’re in. And see where it takes us.”

Napoli have played out two 1-1 draws with Inter this season, but did lose in a one-off Supercoppa Italiana semi-final clash in January.

Lautaro Martinez‘s stoppage-time winner prevented the need for extra time in Riyadh.

But a Serie A title playoff would go straight to penalties if the two teams are still level after 90 minutes.