Last Updated on Agosto 20, 2025 10:04 am by Erwin Noguera
The new Serie A campaign kicks off on August 23, marking the 124th edition of Italy’s top flight and ushering in a season that promises both continuity and change.
The 2024/25 Serie A season will forever be etched in Napoli folklore, as Antonio Conte orchestrated one of the most remarkable victories in recent Italian football history. When Conte returned to Serie A to take charge of the Partenopei, few predicted that he would immediately dethrone his former club, Inter Milan, but that is exactly what happened impressively.
Conte’s return to Italian football was masterful. After stints at Chelsea, Inter, and Tottenham, the tactical mastermind brought his trademark intensity, disciplined defensive structure, and brilliance on the counterattack to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The composition of the league itself brings fresh intrigue. Sassuolo have returned after a brief absence, Cremonese make their comeback to the top flight, and Pisa have rejoined Serie A for the first time in 34 years, bringing new energy and regional flavor to the competition.
Relegation and Promotion: The Random Serie A
The relegation battle proved as dramatic as last season’s title race, with Empoli, Venezia, and Monza ultimately losing their places in Italy’s top flight.
Empoli’s relegation came as no surprise to Serie A observers. Despite a promising start under Paolo Zanetti, their chronic goal-scoring problems, netting just 29 goals all season, ultimately proved fatal. Their over-reliance on veteran Francesco Caputo backfired when the striker’s form dipped in the crucial final months.
Venezia’s return to Serie A lasted only one season. The Venetian side struggled with the step up in quality despite Paolo Vanoli’s tactical ingenuity. Their picturesque Stadio Penzo remained a difficult place for visitors, but their disastrous away form (securing only 8 points on the road) sealed their fate.
Perhaps the most surprising relegation was that of Monza. After two respectable mid-table finishes following their historic promotion, Monza’s gamble on an inexperienced coach after Palladino’s departure backfired spectacularly. Not even the midseason return of veteran coach Cristian Brocchi could save them from the drop.
Coming up from Serie B, we have three clubs with very different profiles. Cremonese returns to Serie A after just one season away, with Giovanni Stroppa’s tactical discipline and Massimo Coda’s goals laying the foundation for their immediate recovery.
Pisa’s promotion marks its first appearance in Serie A in 33 years. Under the guidance of Alberto Aquilani, the former Roma and Liverpool midfielder-turned-promising coach, Pisa played some of the most attractive football in Serie B, centered on a possession-based philosophy rarely seen in Italy’s second division.
Sassuolo’s return to Serie A completes the trio of promoted teams. After their shocking relegation in 2024, the Neroverdi regrouped impressively. Maintaining their commitment to attacking football and youth development even in Serie B, Sassuolo secured automatic promotion with three games to spare.
Serie A 2025/26 Season Favorites TOP 5
Fiorentina
Fiorentina’s qualification for the UEFA Conference League last season masked what was ultimately a disappointing campaign under Raffaele Palladino. The former Monza tactician never found his feet in Florence, prompting his departure and paving the way for a familiar face to return to the Artemio Franchi.
Stefano Pioli’s return to Serie A comes after a short-lived and frankly forgettable season at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Despite his struggles in the Middle East, Pioli brings something invaluable to La Viola: an intimate understanding of both Italian football and Fiorentina’s unique culture.
cigano
Roma’s appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini marks one of the most intriguing managerial moves in Serie A this season. After transforming Atalanta from mid-table obscurity to regular Champions League contenders during his remarkable tenure in Bergamo, Gasperini now brings his revolutionary tactical approach to the Eternal City.
The 67-year-old tactician is known for his distinctive 3-4-3 formation that seamlessly transforms into a 3-4-1-2 depending on the opposition. His high-pressure, man-marking system demands extraordinary physical conditioning and tactical discipline from his players. This approach made Atalanta one of the most entertaining teams in Europe, regularly outperforming teams with significantly larger budgets.
Internacional
The winds of change are blowing through the blue and black half of Milan. After several successful seasons with Simone Inzaghi, Inter finds itself at a crossroads with the appointment of Cristian Chivu as head coach. This represents perhaps the boldest managerial gamble in Serie A this season.
Chivu’s coaching journey has been exclusively within Inter’s youth setup, where he guided the Primavera team to success. His tactical approach with youth teams has shown a preference for fluid, attacking football, while maintaining the defensive solidity he embodied as a player. However, the leap from youth football to managing the senior team of a club with Inter’s expectations is monumental.
Juve
Juventus finds itself in uncharted territory as the club endures its longest Scudetto drought of the 21st century. The Old Lady’s passionate fan base grows increasingly restless with each passing season without Italy’s most coveted trophy. Despite finishing in Champions League positions last season, the gap between them and the top remains significant.
The appointment of Igor Tudor brought stability, but not the dominance that Juventus traditionally expects. His tactical approach, a hybrid 3-4-2-1 system that transforms depending on possession, has shown flashes of great play, but lacks consistency against top opposition.
Nápoles
It has been six long years since a série A champion successfully defended their title, but Antonio Conte’s Napoli seems poised to end this drought spectacularly. The Partenopei’s triumph last season was not just a fleeting moment of glory; it laid the foundation for what could become a new dynasty in Italian football.
Conte’s championship pedigree cannot be overstated. With five Scudetti to his name as a player and coach, the tactical mastermind has proven time and time again that he knows exactly what it takes to reach the pinnacle of Italian football and, more importantly, how to stay there.
Transfer market
Napoli’s acquisition of Kevin De Bruyne stands out as the transfer coup of the summer. The Belgian maestro, who finally left Manchester City after a legendary season, brings his unparalleled vision and passing range to Conte’s already formidable team.
Juventus has responded with two signings of its own. Canadian striker Jonathan David arrives after years of prolific scoring in Ligue 1, while Portuguese midfielder João Mario adds creativity and experience to Tudor’s midfield.
Roma’s revolution under Gasperini includes promising Moroccan midfielder Neil El Aynaoui and Irish striker Evan Ferguson, who arrives after establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most exciting young forwards at Brighton.
On the outgoing front, Inter Milan has lost their tactical architect in Simone Inzaghi, while several veterans, including Alexis Sánchez, have moved on. Milan has carried out a significant clear-out after their disappointing campaign, with several high-earning players leaving to facilitate a rebuild.