Serie A 2019/20: Top 10 storylines to watch on the final day

Serie A, the last of Europe's major football leagues, will draw to a close on Sunday after almost 12 months of heart-pounding action.

Juventus were crowned Serie A champions for the ninth consecutive season despite their recent stuttering form recently whereas SPAL and Brescia were relegated after very poor campaigns.

There's still plenty to play for on the final day of the 2019-20 Serie A season, though, as second place and the battle to avoid relegation are still up for grabs.

Here are the 10 storylines to watch on the last matchday of the 2019/20 Serie A season.

10 storylines to watch out on the final matchday of the 2019-20 Serie A season:

#10: SPAL see out sorry season at home to Fiorentina

No one expected SPAL to remain in the top tier beyond this season, but what SPAL would be incensed with is the manner of their relegation. With just five wins from 37 games and an appalling goal difference of -48, it's been a miserable end to Gli Spallini's three-year sojourn in the Serie A.

Even the arrival of former Italy great Luigi Di Biagio in February couldn't help anchor SPAL's sinking ship as the Ferrara-based outfit continued their free fall. SPAL will be put out of their misery on Sunday at home to Fiorentina who haven't covered themselves this season in much glory either but are coming off the back of a 4-0 win over Bologna.

#9: Genoa to keep an eye on events at Lecce

Consecutive defeats to Inter Milan and Sassuolo in their last two games have left Genoa on a knife's edge heading into the final day of the 2019-20 Serie A. Just one point clear of 18th-placed Lecce, the northwest club must only equal or better the latter's result to ensure their top flight status for a 14th successive season.

Going against the high-flying Hellas Verona won't be easy, though, but the Wolves aren't in for duck soup either with the free-scoring Parma in town. So this could slice anyway, but if both teams somehow end up with the same points at the end, goal difference will be the decider, and that's pretty close too, at -29 and -32 currently.

#8: Bologna play Torino in Dall'Ara dead-rubber

On the final day of a season, there's always at least one fixture which is the most inconsequential and least appealing. Bologna vs Torino is that one on Sunday as the sides meet in a drab encounter with nothing to play for.

Both are below the mid-table - 12th and 16th respectively - heading into Matchday 38, with only pride at stakes. The reverse match in Turin, however, was high-octane with five goals, including an own goal, a penalty and two red cards.

#7: Sampdoria looking to end shambolic season in style

Back in October, Sampdoria looked doomed to go down. An atrocious run of six defeats from their opening seven games consigned them to the bottom of Serie A and in desperate need of an anchor.

In came Claudio Ranieri, who has since steered the Sampdoria ship towards the shores of safety; they now sit pretty in 15th place.

Ever since their top-flight status was confirmed, La Samp have, however, taken their foot off the gas. With defeats in each of their last three games, the mood in the camp might have dampened, but Ranieri and co. have the chance to take all three points on the final day of the Serie A season against the down-and-out Brescia.

#6: Dejan Kulusevski looking to finish with a flourish

Dejan Kulusevski has unquestionably been one of the revelations in the Serie A this season. On loan from Juventus, he's set to return to Turin in the summer and would hence be aiming to end his wonderful time at Parma with a bang rather than a whimper.

In 35 games this season, the Swede has netted 10 times and made a further nine assists. He's been on target in each of the last three games too and enters the final day at the very top of his game.

With Parma going up against a Lecce outfit which has conceded an atrocious 81 goals, Kulusevski must be licking his fingers.

#5: More mayhem at the Mapei

If there's one team which can hold a candle to Atalanta in terms of entertainment, it's Sassuolo.

Ever since the Serie A campaign reconvened, there have been 51 goals for and against in the games involving the Neroverdi, including a triumvirate of nerve-jangling 3-3 draws to Inter Milan, Hellas Verona and Juventus.

The side's irresistible attacking brand coupled with a lackadaisical backline has ensured goals galore at either end, but they wouldn't mind, with eighth position already secured.

So anticipate another wild game at the Mapei stadium with the toothless Udinese side, languishing 14th, coming to town on the final day of the Serie A season.

#4: AC Milan looking to finish unbeaten

No team has come from the break stronger than AC Milan. Unbeaten in all 11 games since the restart, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and co. have picked up the most number of points in this period in Serie A, an amazing run that has also seen huge victories to Juventus, AS Roma and Lazio along the way.

So with the winds firmly in Milan's sails, the objective on Saturday would naturally be to finish just as strongly.

Stefano Piolo would be hard-pressed not to have secured a Champions League return despite many teams above them stumbling. However, he can still be proud of how brilliantly he's turned the tide for a recently stuttering outfit.

#3: AS Roma in the belly of a wounded beast

With the Scudetto already in the bag, Juventus wouldn't be concerned about their spate of poor results recently, which has seen them win only twice in their last seven games. That's why, probably, Maurizio Sarri will opt to play a weakened side on Saturday as the Champions League is fast approaching too.

There has never been a better time for the Gialorossi to visit the Allianz Stadiu. Roma haven't beaten Juventus away from home since January 2011. Even though Paulo Fonseca's men have nothing at stake, with Europa League football already confirmed for next season, this is a golden opportunity to end their Juventus jinx.

#2: Ciro Immobile looks to consolidate his lead in the Golden Boot race

After appearing to be slipping away, given the contrasting run of form between him and Cristiano Ronaldo since the restart, Ciro Immobile once again leads the race for the Golden Boot having fired six goals in the last four games.

As his Portuguese rival is likely to be rested on the final day, Immobile could add some more to his tally of 35 goals against Napoli and consolidate the prize. He's already surpassed Robert Lewandowski, so there's anyway no catching him now.

A goal on the final matchday will help Immobile move level with Gonzalo Higuain's record of most goals (36) in a Serie A season, while a brace or better will give the 30-year-old the record outright.

#1: Bergamo braces for the Serie A runner-up spot showdown

Sparks are set to fly in Italy's northeastern region as Atalanta and Inter Milan clash at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in the battle to finish as the second-best team of the 2019-20 Serie A season.

With both sides performing well above expectations so far, the knives will be drawn out on Sunday in one final push at some personal glory.

Atalanta have never secured a Serie A runner-up position before whereas the Nerazzurri haven't finished second since winning the Scudetto in 2010.

A victory for either side will do the job, but a draw would work in Inter's favour provided Lazio don't win at Napoli. With plenty of attacking stars in both the Atalanta and Inter camps, expect goals galore.