And so to the Serie B season finale. After nine months of compelling drama and more twists and turns than The Sopranos box set, it all comes down to this – 90 minutes to determine the play-offs and relegation verdicts.

Sassuolo and Pisa have punched their ticket to Serie A, while Spezia and Cremonese have secured a bye to the play-off semi-finals. Juve Stabia, Catanzaro and Palermo are all in the play-offs, with Cesena fancied to hold on to the final spot ahead of Bari. Final placings are to be decided.

At the other end of the table, Cosenza bid farewell to Serie B, with five teams looking to avoid joining them in calcio‘s third tier next season.

Like in any outstanding TV series, several loose ends need tying up before the credits can roll so, here’s the state of play ahead of Tuesday night.

The race for the play-offs

Spezia host already relegated Cosenza knowing that a win will secure third place. Slip up, however, and they could finish fourth if Cremonese, who are two points behind them, win at Pisa. Should the Grigiorossi draw in Tuscany, Spezia would secure third even if they lose at home.

Spezia and Cremonese are guaranteed a home semi-final by finishing in the top four. Juve Stabia are fifth heading into the final round and they host Sampdoria in a match with huge implications for both teams. The Stabians need a point to nail down fifth and book a home fixture in the preliminary round, which is one leg only.

Below Juve Stabia, the picture is a bit more complicated. Catanzaro sit two points behind in sixth, one point ahead of Palermo and two better off than Cesena. Catanzaro’s only chance of jumping into fifth is to win at Mantova and hope Sampdoria do them a favour.

For the Calabrians to stay sixth and also be at home in the preliminary round, they must win against Mantova, or draw and hope Palermo don’t beat Carrarese at the Renzo Barbera.

After a rollercoaster of a season Palermo could still finish fifth if they win, Juve Stabia lose and Catanzaro drop points. Cesena, in final play-off place, will guarantee post-season action with a point against Modena.

Cesena still have an outside chance of playing the preliminary round at home but must beat Modena and hope Catanzaro lose and Palermo drop points.

Hope is pretty much all there is left for Bari after three defeats in their last four games left them ninth in the table, three points adrift of Cesena. The equation for the Galletti is simple – they must win away against Sudtirol and hope the Bianconeri lose in Modena.

And if all that is not enough to get your head round, remember, should two teams finish level on points, their position will be determined on head-to-head record. Goal difference then becomes a factor if head-to-head is equal.

Juve Stabia are ahead of Catanzaro while Palermo have a better head-to-head record against Catanzaro and Juve Stabia, and are level with Bari, who hold the tie-breaker over Cesena.

Catanzaro are level with Cesena, who are themselves ahead against Palermo.

The relegation battle

This is where things get really complicated. So let’s start from the bottom. Cittadella and Salernitana are in the same boat – to avoid relegation they must win and hope Brescia, Sampdoria and Frosinone do not.

But, Cittadella and Salernitana, who are level on 39 points, play each other at the Pier Cesare Tombolato. A draw would spell the end for the Venetians, but it may still be enough for the visitors to claim a spot in the relegation play-out, but only if Brescia, Frosinone and Sampdoria lose.

That would leave all five on 40 points with Salernitana facing Brescia in the relegation play-out, Sampdoria relegated to Serie C and Frosinone safe.

A draw against Cittadella would still be enough for Salernitana to make the relegation play-out if four teams finish on 40 points, providing either Brescia or Frosinone are not one of them.

Should Frosinone win or draw away at league champions Sassuolo, Salernitana and Brescia would square off in the relegation play-out if they finish level with Sampdoria and Cittadella on 40 points.

However, should Brescia draw or win against Reggiana, and Frosinone, Sampdoria, Cittadella and Salernitana all finish on 40 points, then the play-out would be Frosinone vs Salernitana.

There’s no doubt that the prospect of Sampdoria slipping into the third tier for the first time in their history is the big talking point. There are many more permutations and combinations to consider if three teams rather than four finish on the 40-point mark, and so on.

Just above the bottom six, Mantova also warrant a mention as they sit on 43 points. They need a point to be safe but if they lose, things could get messy.

Here’s the head-to-heads: Mantova have the advantage over Brescia and Frosinone. Brescia hold the tie-breaker over Frosinone and Sampdoria, and are level with Cittadella and Salernitana.

Sampdoria have the advantage over Mantova and Cittadella, and are level with Salernitana, while Frosinone hold the tie-breaker over Cittadella, Salernitana and Sampdoria.