Italy`s Serie A is back! One of the most thrilling football championships in the world will resume this weekend. The reigning champions, Napoli, will aim to defend their title over 38 matchdays. Meanwhile, Inter, AC Milan, and other teams also hope to compete for top positions in the upcoming season. American star Christian Pulisic is looking forward to an exciting season with his club, despite not participating in European tournaments. New talented players have arrived in the league, and team rosters are more competitive than ever.
Here are our experts` predictions for the upcoming Serie A season.
| Category | James Benge | Roger Gonzalez | Chuck Booth | Pardeep Cattry | Francesco Porzio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions | Inter | Juventus | Napoli | Inter | Napoli |
| Runners-up | AC Milan | Inter | AC Milan | Napoli | Inter |
| Player of the season | Lautaro Martinez, Inter | Jonathan David, Juventus | Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli | Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli | Christian Pulisic, AC Milan |
| Surprise team | Fiorentina | AS Roma | Como | Como | Como |
| Biggest disappointment | Juventus | Napoli | Inter | Atalanta | Atalanta |
| Top scorer | Lautaro Martinez, Inter (21 goals) | Jonathan David, Juventus (22 goals) | Artem Dovbyk, Roma (20 goals) | Lautaro Martinez, Inter (20 goals) | Lautaro Martinez, Inter (25 goals) |
| Best signing | Wesley, Roma | Jonathan David, Juventus | Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli | Kevin De Bruyne, Napoli | Samuele Ricci, AC Milan |
| Worst signing | Jonathan David, Juventus | Noa Lang, Napoli | Leon Bailey, AS Roma | Leon Bailey, AS Roma | Leon Bailey, AS Roma |
| Top four | Inter, AC Milan, Roma, Napoli | Juventus, Inter, Roma, Napoli | Napoli, AC Milan, Roma, Juventus | Inter, Napoli, AC Milan, Juventus | Napoli, Inter, AC Milan, Juventus |
| Relegated teams | Verona, Cremonese, Pisa | Cremonese, Pisa, Lecce | Cagliari, Cremonese, Verona | Cremonese, Verona, Pisa | Cremonese, Lecce, Pisa |
Why Napoli Will Win the League
Antonio Conte`s team is the most probable contender to clinch the 2025-26 Serie A title. After securing their fourth Scudetto last season, the `Azzurri` made several key acquisitions, positioning them as league favorites. This is particularly significant given that all their rivals underwent substantial changes, including managerial reshuffles. Conte, however, opted to remain at Napoli. Inter replaced Simone Inzaghi with Cristian Chivu, AC Milan embarked on a new chapter under Massimiliano Allegri, and Juventus are still restructuring their squad with Igor Tudor after Thiago Motta`s dismissal before the end of the 2024-25 season. Despite Romelu Lukaku`s injury, which will sideline him for at least three months, Napoli is expected to manage his absence with another transfer before the summer window closes, having already signed Lorenzo Lucca from Udinese for approximately $30 million.
Why Como Will Be the Surprise Team
Following a strong debut season in the top flight under Cesc Fabregas, Como invested over $100 million this summer, generating high expectations for a project aiming to become one of Europe`s most intriguing. Como successfully retained the former Barcelona and Arsenal legend despite significant interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Inter this summer, intending to embark on a new cycle with Fabregas at the helm. The club signed talents like Martin Baturina from Dinamo Zagreb, Jesus Rodriguez from Real Betis, and has, to date, managed to keep Nico Paz while also acquiring experienced players such as Spanish striker Alvaro Morata, thereby forming an exciting blend of seasoned and promising footballers.
The Best Signing Will Be Samuele Ricci for Milan
This summer, AC Milan made several interesting signings, offsetting the loss of key players such as Tijjani Reijnders, who joined Manchester City for approximately $70 million, and Theo Hernandez, who signed with Al-Hilal. The `Rossoneri` decided to embark on a new chapter under Massimiliano Allegri, who returned to the club, and signed three midfielders: Luka Modric as a free agent, Ardon Jashari from Club Brugge, and Samuele Ricci from Torino. The Italian midfielder already made his debut as a starter in the season`s first official match – the Coppa Italia play-off against Bari – and is expected to immediately become a crucial player under Allegri`s management.
The Worst Signing Will Be Leon Bailey
Leon Bailey`s situation at AS Roma appears less than ideal. The Jamaican winger signed with the `Giallorossi` this summer, and on the very day his transfer was announced, he sustained a muscular injury that will sideline him for at least three weeks, causing him to miss the start of the season under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Knowing the Italian specialist and his coaching methods at Genoa and Atalanta, his tactical ideas might prove challenging for a winger to adapt to. Bailey`s absence during the initial weeks of training could have significant repercussions for his integration into the club and his performance in Serie A.
The Top Four Will Be: Napoli, Inter, AC Milan, Juventus
Napoli and Inter will once again compete for the Serie A title this season, with the `Azzurri`, led by Antonio Conte, considered the primary contenders for victory. The other teams will contend for a Champions League spot, and AC Milan holds a significant advantage this season as they are not participating in European tournaments. Allegri, in his first season at the club, can focus on one match per week, much like Napoli did last year, thereby increasing their chances of qualifying for the Champions League next season. Juventus is also expected to qualify, but they will face competition from many other teams, including AS Roma, Lazio, Fiorentina, Bologna, Atalanta, and potentially even Como.
