Serie A 2026-27: Inter, Juventus and Milan Battle for Title, Napoli and Roma Seek to Reclaim Status

Serie A's 2026-27 season officially kicks off on Saturday, marking the 125th edition of the league. The title race is predicted to remain a showcase of northern Italian dominance, with Inter, Juventus, and AC Milan having virtually monopolized the scudetto since 2001, with only two exceptions. Napoli and Roma are seen as the hopes of the south.

Inter enter the new season as defending champions after winning last season's title under coach Cristian Chivu in his first year at the helm. The Nerazzurri finished 11 points clear of second-placed Napoli.

Major Changes at the Top

Inter have bolstered their defense with right-back Djed Spence from Tottenham and center-back John Stones from Manchester City. Aleksandar Stankovic has been brought back from Club Brugge, and Curtis Jones from Liverpool is expected to join the midfield. However, Inter risk losing Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez, their captain and last season's Serie A top scorer with 17 goals, as he is reportedly a target for Barcelona.

AC Milan, who finished fifth last season, and Juventus, who were sixth, have made bold moves to close the gap on Inter. Milan have appointed Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, who was sacked by Manchester United in January, and spent €74 million ($84.5 million) to bring in striker Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain. Diego Moreira from Strasbourg has also arrived, potentially as a replacement for Rafael Leao.

Juventus, who hold the record with 36 Serie A titles, have placed their faith in coach Luciano Spalletti to challenge for the scudetto for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The Turin club have parted ways with Dusan Vlahovic after three years and signed French striker Randall Kolo Muani. The defense has been reinforced with Colombian center-back Jhon Lucumi and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on loan from Tottenham.

Can Inter Usher in a New Era of Dominance?

If Inter are to build a new era of dominance, their strength lies in the midfield of Chivu's 3-5-2 formation. The plan is for Jones to support Nicolo Barella and Petar Susic in the center, with Spence and Federico Dimarco providing width on the flanks. In defense, Stones will compete for a spot with his former Manchester City teammate Manuel Akanji, alongside Alessandro Bastoni, Yann Bisseck, and Benjamin Pavard. During the pre-season, 18-year-old Leonardo Bovio has also been trialed as a center-back.

Inter led Serie A last season with 89 goals, 24 more than second-placed Como. Should Martinez depart, the goalscoring burden would fall on veteran striker Marcus Thuram and two young talents, Ange-Yoan Bonny (22) and Francesco Pio Esposito (21).

Luka Modric's Renaissance at Milan

After a career spanning over 20 years with 6 Champions League titles and 4 La Liga crowns at Real Madrid, Luka Modric seemed ready to hang up his boots. However, since moving to Milan, the Croatian midfielder has quickly rediscovered top form. Milan lost their opening Serie A match last season but then went on a 24-game unbeaten run with Modric controlling the midfield.

Modric, who turns 41 on September 9th, continues to show remarkable endurance. His game reading and delicate touches keep opposition defenses on the back foot. He also served as a key support for American-Croatian winger Cristian Pulisic before the latter suffered an injury.

Pio Esposito – A New Hope for Italian Football

Alongside the burden of a national team that has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, Inter's young striker Francesco Pio Esposito is expected to restore the reputation of Italian strikers.

Last season, the total number of goals in Serie A dropped from 973 (in 2024-25) to 922, an average of 2.42 goals per game, the lowest among Europe's top 8 leagues. Only three Italian players scored in double figures: Federico Bonazzoli, Riccardo Orsolini, and Gianluca Scamacca (10 goals).

Esposito, from a football-loving family in Castellammare di Stabia in the Campania region, moved north at a young age with his two brothers. He emerged during the 2025 Club World Cup, providing an assist on his debut and scoring against River Plate in his second match. Standing 1.88m tall, Pio possesses aerial strength and can finish well with both feet. He scored 7 goals in 35 appearances (15 starts) for Inter last season.

Can Como Continue to Surprise?

Cesc Fabregas and Como have enjoyed a remarkable rise. Fabregas joined Como as a minority shareholder and player in the 2022-2023 season, later becoming an assistant coach and then head coach. Last season, he guided Como to a winning record in Serie A for the first time since 1952.

Como, who play at the 12,000-seat Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on the shores of Lake Como, near the Swiss border, set a club record by finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League. Fabregas has built an effective attacking style with a 4-2-3-1 formation, blending young talents like Martin Baturina, Anastasios Douvikas, and Nico Paz with veterans such as Alvaro Morata.

Goalkeeper Jean Butez led Serie A with 19 clean sheets last season, but European matches will pose a greater test for Como's defense. Trevoh Chalobah and right-back Yan Couto are expected to shore up the backline.

The Aurelio de Laurentiis and Napoli Equation

After saving Napoli from bankruptcy and relegation to Serie C in 2004, president Aurelio de Laurentiis promised to bring the club back to European competition and win the scudetto. The promise became reality as Napoli won Serie A twice, equaling the achievements of the Diego Maradona era. Notably, Napoli won the title in 2025 despite selling Victor Osimhen just before the season and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia mid-season.

However, maintaining that level is difficult. Last season, Napoli slipped to second place and were eliminated early from the Champions League. Their defense was a weakness, coinciding with an injury to center-back Amir Rrahmani.

De Laurentiis continues to show adeptness at recruiting high-profile coaches. After Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte, and Luciano Spalletti, his latest move is bringing in Massimiliano Allegri, who won 6 Serie A titles with Juventus and Milan, to lead Napoli.