Serie A is undoubtedly one of the leagues with the highest entertainment value and the highest quality teams in the world. It’s been like this for years. The rivalry between Inter and Milan lasted from the early to late 2000s, followed by Juventus’ dominance in the 2010s… In recent years, however, Serie A has managed to break these well-established dynamics. In just five seasons, four different champions have emerged, which is in stark contrast to the other major leagues.
The champions are Inter, Milan, Juventus, and Napoli. Of the five major leagues, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and the Premier League had only two champions, while La Liga had three champions in the same five-year span. For example, if you ask any football fan today which team will be champion in the Premier League this season, the answer is likely Manchester City or Arsenal. The same is true for the other big leagues. If asked about La Liga, the answer would likely be Barcelona or Real Madrid, for Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain, and for the Bundesliga, despite Bayer Leverkusen breaking the monopoly last season, the answer would probably be Bayern Munich. In short, the number of teams you’ll hear as contenders rarely exceeds two, making these leagues predictable and mundane. For Serie A, however, it’s not so simple. There are many powerful and ambitious teams, raising the level of competition and excitement in the league. Juventus, Inter, Milan, and Napoli are all strong title contenders. Even Atalanta, Lazio, Roma, and Fiorentina, which have the potential to surprise, can be added to this list thanks to their squad quality. As you can see, Serie A has recently been the league with the most excitement and variety of champions. This season, too, the excitement is quite high. Even though we’re only in the tenth week of the league, the competition is intense, with only a 9-point gap between the first and eighth teams. Let’s take a closer look at the current status of the teams and the standings at the top of the league.
At the top of the league is Napoli, the champion of the 2022/2023 season. The Blues have amassed 25 points with 8 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in 10 matches. After 33 years, Napoli clinched the title with the major contribution of Osimhen, who has since parted ways with the club due to a disagreement with President De Laurentiis and the president’s uncompromising stance. Following this departure, Osimhen made a surprising transfer to our representative, Galatasaray. However, Napoli quickly filled this void, bringing in Lukaku, a forward who knows both the Italian league and Antonio Conte well. Lukaku, who scored 4 goals and provided 5 assists in 9 matches, is undoubtedly lifting the team alongside Kvaratskhelia. After waiting 33 years for their last championship, the Blues are now aiming to shorten this wait.
In second place is Inter. We can say that this Milan team is the most consistent in recent seasons, with two championships and a Champions League final in the last five seasons. Inter, which is in second place with 21 points, managed to largely retain its squad during the summer transfer window. With 24 goals, Inter is the second-highest-scoring team in the league. Our national player Hakan Çalhanoğlu, along with stars like Federico Dimarco, Marcus Thuram, and Lautaro Martinez, stands out in their excellent performances. Let’s see if the blue-and-black team can claim the championship again under Simone Inzaghi.
Another strong championship candidate is Juventus, undoubtedly the king of the league. With 36 championships, Juventus is by far the most successful team in Italy’s league. However, their trophy drought has now extended to five years. The biggest dream of young coach Thiago Motta is to end this drought. After leading Bologna to Champions League qualification last year, Motta now has his sights set on the league title with Juventus. This season, Juventus has been one of the league’s most reliable teams, conceding only one goal in the first nine weeks and remaining unbeaten. They are in fourth place with 18 points. Vlahovic, who scored 8 goals in 13 games, is undoubtedly their most important player. Young star Kenan Yıldız, who entered late and scored twice in their thrilling 4-4 match against Inter in week nine, and experienced defender Bremer are also key figures. Let’s see if Thiago Motta can finally end Torino’s five-year trophy drought.
Another championship candidate is Milan. The red side of Milan follows their eternal rivals with 14 points from one game less and is holding on to the top race. Their last championship was in 2022, and Fonseca’s squad is eager to end this wait. Fans’ eyes are surely on their superstar Leao. Pulisic, having scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists in 11 matches, is having a strong season, and Morata, who joined Milan as a European champion, will do his best to achieve this goal. Let’s see if Milan can reach their 20th championship and add their second star this season.
Aside from the aforementioned champions, Serie A also hosts several well-established teams that could surprise. One of these is Fiorentina. The Florence-based team strengthened its squad with stars like De Gea and Moise Kean, continuing to add value to the league with their offensive play, while De Gea, who kept a clean sheet in four matches, seems to be channeling his Manchester United days. Last season’s Europa League champion, Atalanta, continues at full speed. The Bergamo team has risen to third place with 19 points and is the league’s highest-scoring team with 26 goals. As always, Gasperini’s gameplay is entertaining to watch, and 26-year-old forward Retegui impresses with 10 goals in 14 matches. Although things may not be going as well as Lazio and Roma had hoped, the capital teams will remain in the race for the upper echelons thanks to their experienced and star-studded squads. Newly promoted team Como, led by Cesc Fabregas, will certainly be a surprise team this season and bring some color to the league.
As you can see, Serie A hosts many competitive teams, and the excitement peaks every week. As the weeks pass, predicting match outcomes becomes increasingly challenging, and every team has its eye on the top of the league. Let’s see who will be happy, who will be disappointed, and, most importantly, who will lift the Scudetto at the end of this thrilling season.