With six clubs at the top of the table all within two points of each other, Serie A has been a jam-packed, blustering war of attrition nearly one-third of the way through the season.
Amongst the top five European leagues, Serie A stands alone for its parity at the top of the table (so far, at least). As things stand heading into the weekend, first through sixth place are separated by just two points — by far the closest race amongst the “big five.”
So many teams in the Italian top flight build their ethos on being difficult to beat. Games can be slow, grueling battles for long periods, with genuine moments of difference hard to come by.
The most recent clash at the top of the table between Inter and Napoli is a perfect example. Possession nearly at a 50-50 split, with 15 and 12 fouls committed respectively, one big chance each, leading to a 1-1 final score.
The close nature of the league makes for compelling viewing for not just fans invested in the league, but for neutrals as well. There’s always been beauty behind the madness in Serie A.
Italian football has long been known as a haven for tactical battles, physically taxing games, and hostile atmospheres for away teams, all of which make it so difficult to win games, but that much more rewarding when you do. The defensive style of play that is prevalent in Italy is well-documented, and is one of the reasons we often see teams so tightly bunched across the league table. It’s also why you see Italian teams making it deep into European competitions. Every week is a new challenge, teams are forced to constantly think, adapt, and evolve; there are no two matches created equal.
Two points between the top six 😲
… and #SerieA is back this week 😎 pic.twitter.com/lB8Lz0L5he
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) November 18, 2024
Since the end of the Juventus monopoly on titles in the 2010s, it’s clear to see that the league is definitely headed back to its chaotic peak.
The last five seasons in the Italian top flight have produced four different title winners, and two of these seasons were decided by less than three points. The only team to win multiple titles in this span was Inter, who this season look as strong as ever, though they’re far from the only ones.
Juventus is the last unbeaten side in Serie A, yet currently sit in sixth. Napoli find themselves back at the top of the table after finishing in 10th last season, with Antonio Conte now at the helm and a host of new signings who have all made instant impacts.
To make matters even more interesting, the team in seventh, quietly lurking outside of the first through sixth traffic jam, is none other than Milan. The Rossoneri got off to a slow start under new manager Paulo Fonseca, but they have slowly righted the ship and are fresh off a brilliant win in the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid. Their sole losses in the competition are at the hands of undefeated Liverpool, who sit top of the league, and Bayer Leverkusen, who have only lost to Liverpool themselves. Milan in seventh are still only eight points off Napoli in first while having a game in hand on all those above them.
The fact that the battle at the tail end of the league is just as fierce as at the top adds to the league’s allure. Only five points separate Roma in 12th, who have already sacked two managers this season, and Venezia at the bottom of the table. While tight relegation scraps are much more commonplace across Europe, it’s extremely rare to see a league table where the battle at the top for European places is more hotly contested than those fighting to stay up.
Title challenges are marathons, where the margins for error are so fine they are nigh on invisible to see; it’s a battle to see who will flinch first, and just under one-third of the way through the season, there has been no indication of any team letting up.
This Year’s Surprise Package
In most seasons, you’re due for one team that massively exceeds the expectations of their fans. This year’s scrap at the top of Italian football has been made much more intriguing by the performances of Fiorentina.
I Viola are in the midst of a 50-year top-flight title drought, and despite the fact it’s still early, this season looks like one of the best opportunities they’ll have. At the time of writing, they have rattled off seven wins on the bounce in the league, including a supremely impressive 2-1 win over Milan, and a 5-1 dismantling of Roma. New manager Raffaele Palladino, who arrived in the summer from Monza, has been charged with leading this side forward, and he has built a vibrant team with a young core as its nucleus, who are supplemented by battle-tested veterans who still have much to give.
Their summer window was geared towards fashioning the squad in this way and the signings have been brilliant. David de Gea signed on a free and has been an ever-present between the sticks since he displaced Pietro Terracciano, and young midfielders Edoardo Bove, Andrea Colpani, and Yacine Adli have all been shrewd loan acquisitions.
However, the biggest signing has been Moise Kean, one of the deadliest marksmen in Europe this season, fresh off the back of a hat trick in his last game. The Italian is yet another player who was judged way too early, dubbed a “failed wunderkind” after his moves between Everton and Juventus never really saw him hit the heights expected of him. The now 24-year-old has ripped up that script and established himself this season as an elite No. 9 and a man Fiorentina can rely on.
Whether he can be the spearhead to a title charge remains to be seen, but having a proper bagsman up top never hurts your chances.
Way Too Early Predictions
Inter, the reigning champions, haven’t missed a beat, and their performances across all competitions have continued to garner praise with Simone Inzaghi widely regarded as one of the best managers in world football.
Atalanta are currently on a six-game win streak, despite having significantly less resources than some of those around them. Nevertheless, bet against Gian Piero Gasperini and the reigning Europa League champions at your peril. Juventus and Lazio are both hard to count out as well, but at the moment, those above them impress me just slightly more; and the team at the very top is my pick.
Napoli look overwhelming at the moment. Any Antonio Conte-managed side playing one game a week is one you need to fear, and he currently has a range of tools at his disposal that make the Blues a formidable foe. Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku have been their headline summer signings and spearhead their revitalized attack, but their man at the helm is probably the biggest X-factor you can have. Conte has been there and done that, a four-time Scudetto winner, and with this team he has as good a chance as any to make it five.
There are very few times in football you come across a league campaign where you see six teams legitimately challenging for top honors in December, and it’s no surprise that Italy is the country where we see it.
This season in particular looks set to be an all timer, and if you haven’t already, strap in and enjoy the next eight months of drama that is set to unfold in Europe’s most competitive league.
