A frenetic season came to a close with an incredible scramble at the bottom of the table to avoid the trap door to Serie C on Tuesday evening. But slipping under the radar against the backdrop of mayhem was the jostling for position in a bid to join Sassuolo and Pisa in exiting the second tier via the skylight.

While Sampdoria players sank to the turf, their fate confirmed after a 0-0 stalemate, their opponents Juve Stabia revelled in the knowledge that the point was enough to secure fifth place and a home tie in the play-off prelimenary round.

However, there was still a late twist in the tale, with the make-up of their tie changing in the 89th minute, Cesena’s late winner against Modena lifting them above Palermo, to ensure that they meet Catanzaro and the Sicilians are left with a trip to to the Bay of Naples. Beyond those challenges, Spezia and Cremonese lie in wait.

Here, Destination Calcio takes a look at the fixtures and the dates and times of the preliminary round, with each game to be shown live on Destination Calcio TV.

Catanzaro vs Cesena, May 17, 4.15pm BST

Cesena are looking to secure improbable back-to-back promotions after a monumental late push saw them overtake the likes of Bari to secure a spot in the top eight.

Three wins on the bounce, their latest coming courtesy of Mirko Antonucci’s last-gasp effort in Modena on Tuesday, have set up a tie with Catanzaro and a date with one of Serie B’s top goalscorers in Pietro Iemmello, who notched 16 times during the regular season.

These sides boast one win apiece from their meetings this season, but it was Catanzaro who triumphed 4-2 when they last met in February at Stadio Nicola Ceravolo – the venue for Saturday’s clash.

Juve Stabia vs Palermo, May 17, 6.30pm BST

After sending one of Serie B’s giants tumbling down to the third tier, Juve Stabia have a date with another of the division’s Goliaths.

The Stabians, much like Cesena, have enjoyed an unprecedented season of success, with the arrival of new majority owners Brera Holdings coinciding with a campaign that has them going for a second consecutive promotion after finishing top of Serie C Girone C in 2024.

Palermo have endured a rocky season that hasn’t quite hit the heights they would have hoped, especially given the City Group’s outlay on new additions. However, with the arrival of Joel Pohjanpalo in January, the Eagles boast an individual primed in the art of navigating the play-offs from his days with Venezia.

During the regular season, Palermo had the upper hand in this fixture, winning home and away. A third victory on Saturday and their season could yet end on a satisfying note.

Spezia, Cremonese and the semi-finals

Beyond the initial fixtures this Saturday, Spezia and Cremonese will be lying in wait for the play-off semi-finals.

Spezia, who finished in third, agonisingly failing to keep pace with Pisa in the race for the second automatic promotion spot, will face either Catanzaro or Cesena over two legs for a place in the final. Cremonese will take on the winner between Juve Stabia and Palermo.

Those two legs are schedule to take place on May 21 and May 25. The two legs for the final are scheduled for May 29 and June 1.

Relegation Play-Out

At the other end of the table, the respite for Salernitana and Frosinone is all too brief following their final matchday heroics.

Salernitana beat Cittadella 2-0 to give themselves a stay of execution and condemn their rivals to Serie C, while Frosinone beat champions Sassuolo to stave off the drop, for a few days at least.

As it is, one side is set to suffer the ignominy of back-to-back relegations after both fell from the top flight at the beginning of this campaign alongside Sassuolo. The celebrations are likely to be just as raucous as those of the champions for whoever comes out on top in their two-legged affair.

The pair will first meet in Salerno on May 19 at 7.30pm BST, before Frosinone host the deciding fixture on May 26, again at 7.30pm BST.