The Serie A has faced criticism in recent years for its drop in quality across teams, especially for their performances in Europe this year. Despite this, the Italian league’s top half of the table is proving entertainment at its finest with multiple teams fighting for a spot in Europe’s elite next season.
With six teams battling it out for a place in the Champions League, five games will determine which European competitions each side will participate in, in the new season.
Inter’s dominance
Inter Milan sit top of the pile on 78 points, sitting 12 clear of the chasing pack. A win in their next game week could be enough to secure them their 21st Serie A title after missing out on the title to Napoli last season by one point.
With only four spots for Italy on offer for the Champions League next season, Inter are mathematically only one point away from securing the first spot for the Italian League, which they no doubt will do.
They finished 10th in this year’s Champions League league phase and faced an inexperienced Norwegian side, Bodo/Glimt, in the play-off round. The Italian powerhouses bowed out 5-2 on aggregate in the biggest shock of the competition, causing criticism for the real quality of Italian teams across Europe.
Despite this, Inter turned their full focus to the league, losing only once in their last eight after the Champions League game, solidifying themselves at the top. Their lead striker, Lautaro Martinez, also sits on 16 goals, making himself the league’s top scorer, with Italian fullback Federico Dimarco sitting on an impressive 15 assists, making him the league’s top assister.
2nd – AC Milan, 66 points
The red side of Milan, in AC Milan, currently sits in second on 66 points, with an eight-point cushion in the Champions League spots.
With no European football to focus on this season, due to the side finishing 8th in the league last season, AC Milan has had their full focus on the Serie A this season. Hoping not to have another season with no European football, which, for a club of their size, is deemed a failure.
Milan started the season going 13 unbeaten from September to December in all competitions. Since their league form has been consistent enough to put themselves in a comfortable position. A crucial game against Juventus comes next which will play a huge factor in their European fate for next season.
The addition of Balon d’Or winner Luka Modric in midfield has proven a brilliant signing for the side and added composure to the fullest in their midfield, with skilful winger Rafael Leao leading the way in goals with nine and American winger Christian Pulisic close behind with eight.
3rd – Napoli, 66 points
Sitting in third on the same points as AC Milan is the Serie A title holders Napoli, managed by the great Antonio Conte. They also sit in a Champions League spot with an eight-point cushion.
The Italian holders have had a rocky season, riddled with injuries to key players. They finished 30th in this season’s Champions League phase, failing to reach the next stage. They were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia to Como.
They won the Supercoppa Italiana, beating Bologna 2-0 in the final, but the side will be disappointed to miss out on winning back-to-back Scudetto’s.
Signings of midfield superstar Kevin De Bruyne and Rasmus Hojlund have payed off for Napoli, but an injury filled squad across the season to De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, David Neres and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has proved costly for them as the title is slipping away each gameweek.
New signing Rasmus Hojlund leads the way in goals with 10 in the Serie A, but plaudits once again go to Scott McTominay who is still the key man for Napoli, carrying on his insane form from last season.
4th – Juventus, 63 points
Juve have had a rough few seasons, falling from consistent Serie A champions to not having won the league in six years. After sacking Igor Tudor in October due to eight games in all competitions without a win, Juve brought in Luciano Spalletti.
Juventus finished 13th in the Champions League phase, but were knocked out in the league phase by Turkish Champions Galatasaray in the play-off round, contributing to the criticism of the quality of Italian football compared to the rest of Europe.
Since bringing in Spalletti, Juve have only lost four games in Serie A across six months and have silently made their way back up in the Champions League spots and are five points clear of the chasing pack.
Turkish superstar, Kenan Yildiz leads the way in goals and assists for Juve with 10 goals and six assists in the league, summer signing Jonathan David has struggled to pick up form with only six goals for the Canadian striker.
5th – Como 1907, 58 points
Como is the surprise package of the chasing pack, sitting five points away from a Champions League place. The club have never played European football in their history and they are five games away from potentially having the biggest season in their history.
Led by Spanish legend Cesc Fabregas in charge, Como went seven games unbeaten in the league before their last two games, boosting their hopes of being among Europe’s elites, but back-to-back losses in their last two games mean they have an uphill battle to overcome to catch the top four.
Their last five games are in their favour with a crucial game against Napoli in two weeks time which could be all or nothing for Fabregas’ side.
Argentine midfielder Nico Paz is proving himself to be one of the top players in Serie A, after signing from Real Madrid, he has been crucial in Como’s success in the Serie A, with 12 goals and six assists in the league. He could be the crucial element to get them over the line.
6th – AS Roma, 58 points
Roma sit in sixth, five points behind a Champions League spot. Roma have also had a inconsistent season, with them not really going on either a winning or losing run.
The side played in the Europa League this season, finishing eighth in the league phase. Roma then faced Bologna in the round of 16 in an all-Italian tie, but were knocked out in extra time of the second leg. A disappointment for them as they were seen as one of the favourites competing.
Their remaining five games all consist of teams lower in the table to them so the side will be hoping they can use that to their advantage to creep into a Champions League spot.
Donyell Malen, who they signed on loan from Aston Villa in January, has hit the league by storm, already hitting double figures in goals since January and becoming Roma’s top scorer in the league from just four months of play time.
7th – Atalanta, 54 points
Atalanta have the biggest challenge out of the chasing pack, sitting nine points away from a Champions League spot, the Italian side have a mountain to climb but are still not mathematically out of the race just yet.
They finished 15th in this season’s Champions League league phase and faced Borussia Dortmund in the play-off round. A dramatic comeback saw them win 4-1 in the second leg and 4-3 on aggregate, but they faced Bayern Munich in the round of 16 and were pummelled 10-2 on aggregate knocking them out of the competition.
Atalanta started of the season well, but in recent months, their form has dropped as they become less likely to qualify for another season among Europe’s elites.
Nikola Krstovic leads the way in goals with 10, and Gianluca Scamatta follows close behind with eight. They have a tough run of fixtures to go in the league and also a Coppa Italia semi-final to look forward to as they hope to win some more silverware since their famous Europa League win in 2024.
Everything still to play for
With only five games to go, Inter are looking to secure another Serie A title, whilst the other six will battle it out and put everything on the line to secure one of the three remaining spots to play in Europe’s elite competition next season.
With some of the six teams playing against each other in the run-in, each game is vital and expect to see some twists and turns along the way.
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