The 2026/27 Serie A is almost upon us and we can look forward to a thrilling season of topflight Italian football, with plenty of top teams battling for the Scudetto.
Inter Milan come into the new season as the defending champions after finishing with 87 points, nine more than second place Napoli. Roma and Como rounded up the top four spots.
The Nerazzuri also lifted the Coppa Italia and now head coach Christian Chivu has the difficult task to maintain their status despite making numerous changes to their squad.
Inter halted Juventus’ complete dominance of the Serie A, which saw them win an unprecedented nine consecutive titles. Since their last title in the 2019/20 season, AC Milan have won once – with Inter and Napoli winning the other two titles.
Last season’s major surprise outfit was Como, who finished in their highest ever position and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
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Cesc Fabregas has also made a few changes to his side, most notably signing Trevor Chalobah from Chelsea to boost his defensive options. The pressure will be on him to replicate their prowess from last season and trouble the traditional top teams in the land.
Venezia, Frosinone and Monza are the three teams making a return to the Serie A after securing promotion last season.
Can Inter be stopped?
Inter are seeking a third Serie A title in four seasons and according to reports, are favorites to retain the Scudetto.
The biggest change for Inter is the exit of veteran number one goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who left for Club Brugge this summer after making 100 appearances for the Italian heavyweights.
They signed Manchester City defensive duo of John Stones and Manuel Akanji, as well as Djed Spence from Spurs for a reported £30 million.
However, with their reliable attacking duo of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram still at the club, we can expect the free scoring matches that we have come to expect from Chivu’s side.
Inter scored an astounding 89 goals last season, 24 more than Como who scored the second most goals in the Serie A.
Judging from recent seasons and the quality of players in their squad, we cannot write them off, especially when it comes to defending their Serie A title.
Roma, Milan, Napoli and Juventus – Changes and ambitions
Four-time Serie A winners Napoli put up a fight throughout last season but had to settle for a second place finish. They have made a key personnel change with Massimilliano Allegri taking charge after Antonio Conte chose to leave the club.
Romelu Lukaku, who has been a key figure in the Napoli attack, also left the club to join Turkish outfit Fenerbahce after helping them to the Scudetto in the 2024/25 season.
The Naples side has shown consistency over the past four seasons and the two titles in that time, proves that they have what it takes to compete at the very top level of Italian football.
Despite a strong second half of the season from Roma, they could only manage a third place finish. They have not won the Serie A in 25 years, with their last triumph coming in the 2000/01 season.
However, they could be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the new season. They are now under the tutelage of former Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who is known for his aggressive and attacking approach with his teams.
They will battle it out against their rivals Juventus, who are also seeking a first Scudetto since 2019/20. Despite their recent dismal run, Juve remain the most successful club in the Serie A with a record 36 titles to their name.
Juve missed out on Champions League qualification last season due to a sixth place league finish. This means they will have to settle for a Europa League battle, where they will be joined by Milan.
The Old Lady have brought back Randal Kolo Muani and also signed Guglielmo Vicario from Spurs as they seek to rejuvenate their squad, seeking a revival that will boost their title hopes.
Milan have also appointed a new manager, with former Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim taking charge following the departure of Massimilliano Allegri.
They have shown improvements over the course of pre-season and they could potentially be one of the teams to look out for this season. Milan last won the Serie A in the 2021/22 season.
Surprise outfits to look out for
Como are undoubtedly the team with the most eyeballs on them after their meteoric rise up the rankings in recent history. Their best-ever finish last season and qualification for the Champions League, definitely makes them a side to look out for.
Fabregas has completely turned the team around and the exciting football they put on display will cause trouble to most of their opposition.
Atalanta could only manage a seventh-place finish last season but this should not push any side to underestimate them.
Maurizio Sarri has taken charge of the club after Giasperini’s exit, and his philosophy will be key in ensuring his side can rebuild and cause some trouble once more.
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Fast facts and FAQ’s
When does the 2026/27 Serie A season start?
The league officially kicks off on Saturday, August 22 at 7:30PM E.A.T
Who are the favorites to win Serie A?
Defending champions Inter Milan remain hot favorites. However, Napoli, Milan and Roma are expected to cause a fight for the Scudetto.
Which teams are expected to secure European spots?
Here are the six teams that expected to secure European football at the end of the season, in no particular order.
Inter, Napoli, Milan, Roma, Como and Juventus.
Who are the top strikers in expected to lead the goal-scoring charts for their particular sides?
Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram – Inter
Anastasios Douvikas – Como
Jonathan David and Lois Openda – Juventus
Rasmus Hojlund – Napoli
Conclusion
We can definitely expect fireworks this season as the top teams strive to prevent Inter from defending their title and winning a 22nd Serie A crown.
There have been plenty of changes in managerial positions, especially with the top teams – this will make for an interesting transition as teams seek to find their footing under new coaches.
It is unlikely that we may have a surprise winner, with the usual suspects expected to maintain their foothold on the Serie A.