Hello there! The Serie A title race continues to take twists and turns, while Europe’s first club final of the season is on the horizon with Wednesday’s Europa League final. As the trophy chase continues across Europe, I’m Pardeep Cattry with the latest.

📺 Footy fix

All times U.S./Eastern

Monday, May 19
🏴 EPL: Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Liverpool, 3 p.m. ➡️ USA Network

Tuesday, May 20
🏴 EPL: Manchester City vs. Bournemouth, 3 p.m. ➡️ USA Network
🇺🇸 Open Cup: New England Revolution vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network

⚽ The Forward Line

🇮🇹 Serie A title race will go down to the final day

The penultimate weekend of Serie A action did not disappoint as the title race took several twists and turns on Sunday, setting up for a final round of matches with the title still hanging in the balance.

Napoli began the day with a one point lead over Inter and ended the day with the same advantage, but not before a jam-packed set of games in Milan and Parma. Inter took the lead over Lazio in first half stoppage time thanks to Yann Aurel Bisseck, a result that put them atop the table while Napoli were still encountering a scoreless game at Parma.

Lazio equalized in the 72nd minute through Pedro, restoring Napoli’s one point lead. Seven minutes later, Inter were back on top of the table when Denzel Dumfries scored but in the 90th minute, Inter slipped back down to second after Pedro converted a penalty for Lazio.

With much of the action settled in Milan, the drama shifted to Parma as Napoli earned a penalty in stoppage time with the score still 0-0. If Napoli converted the spotkick, they would go three points clear atop the table with one game to go, making them a near lock to win the title on the final day. A lengthy VAR review, however, led the referee to rescind the penalty for a foul in the build-up, thus the game ended without any goals.

The title will likely be decided on Friday when Napoli hosts Cagliari and Inter travels to Como in critical matches set to kick off simultaneously. Both title contenders will face midtable opposition and are favored to win. However, Napoli remain in control of the title race, needing only to win over 14th place Cagliari to claim their first Serie A title in two years. In contrast, Inter must hope for Napoli to falter even if they beat Como. The most dramatic outcome remains on the table; if Napoli lose and Inter draw, they will tie on points and face a playoff match at a neutral venue.

📺 Tottenham vs. Man United

🏆 Spurs and United head to Bilbao for Europa League final

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are making their way to Bilbao, Spain for the UEFA Europa League final upcoming on Wednesday, which is among the more unexpected finals in recent European history. England’s 16th and 17th place teams will be squaring off for a significant trophy and a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The stakes are remarkably similar for both teams, who despite not being top contenders, must confront a critical moment to salvage their seasons. Spurs’ performance hinges heavily on player fitness, a recurring struggle throughout the season. With key players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusveski sidelined by injuries, Manager Ange Postecoglou might need to explore tactical adjustments to compensate for their absence.

On the United side, Ruby Amorim’s initial months may culminate in an Europa League trophy, though the road has not been easy. These months have highlighted challenges in adapting the squad to Amorim’s tactical approach; he previously stated this may be the worst version of the team in history. Bruno Fernandes articulated a push for his teammates to step up during his acceptance speech for the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award. Regardless of the match outcome, how the squad performs will set the tone for the future as significant changes are expected during the summer.

🔗 Top Stories

⭐ Real Madrid’s new defender: Los Blancos signed Bournemouth center back Dean Huijsen. What are they acquiring in the Netherlands-born Spain international? 🏆 Have they won it before?: Just how many times have Inter and PSG clinched the Champions League title? 🦅 Crystal Palace’s golden day: For the first time in club history, Crystal Palace secured a major trophy by defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. ❔ European qualification: Overview of how teams in the Premier League can qualify for various European competitions approaching the final matchday of the season. ❌ A missed opportunity: USMNT star Christian Pulisic won’t participate in European soccer next season after AC Milan’s disappointing campaign. 🏥 Finally home: Savy King of Angel City FC was discharged from the hospital after heart surgery following a collapse on the pitch.

💰 The Back Line

💵 Best bets

Premier League: Manchester City vs. Bournemouth, Tuesday, 3 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Manchester City to win 2-1 (+700) – Following a loss in the FA Cup final, Manchester City aim to respond strongly in their critical Premier League match against Bournemouth as they push for a Champions League spot.

For more expert predictions and betting news, don’t miss out on the CBSSports.com betting homepage.