Serie A 2026/2027: a preview from Oranje Palace

We are approaching the end of August, which means that Europe’s top leagues are also getting underway. From Saturday 22 August, this will also apply to Serie A, the top flight of Italian football. From the Derby della Madonnina in Milan to the Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus: it’s clear that some of Europe’s very best clubs will once again be battling it out for the Scudetto.

But who will be crowned Italy’s new champions this season? Will Inter retain the league title? Or will Napoli, Juventus and AC Milan manage to knock the Nerazzurri off their throne? And can clubs such as Roma, Atalanta and the surprisingly strong Como spring another surprise? Reason enough for Oranje Palace to look ahead to a new season in one of the world’s most historic football leagues.

When does the 2026/2027 Serie A season start?

The 2026/2027 Serie A season officially kicks off on the weekend of 22 and 23 August 2026. The first round of fixtures will be spread across Saturday, Sunday and Monday, after which the usual fixture schedule will resume from the fourth round onwards.

Reigning champions Inter will kick off the new season in front of their home crowd. The Nerazzurri will host newly promoted Monza at San Siro and will be looking to secure their first three points straight away. AC Milan also have an interesting fixture coming up straight away: the Rossoneri are away to Torino, the new club of former Ajax player Kian Fitz-Jim.

Juventus also start at home, hosting the highly ambitious Como, whilst Napoli kick off the season with a home match against Parma. AS Roma, Donyell Malen’s team, are in for a cracking match straight away as they face Fiorentina in Florence.

How did the 2025/2026 Serie A season go?

Following Napoli’s success under Antonio Conte, it was Inter who were crowned champions of the 2025/2026 season last season. The Milan-based club amassed 87 points from 38 matches and won no fewer than 27 games. With 89 goals, Inter also boasted the most prolific attack in Serie A. Remarkably, this was achieved under the leadership of Christian Chivu, the manager who is working at the very highest level for the first time as head coach. Can the Romanian repeat this feat?

Napoli finished second with 76 points, whilst AS Roma surprisingly came third with 73 points. The biggest surprise, however, was Como. The team finished fourth with 71 points, thereby qualifying for the Champions League. AC Milan finished fifth, followed by Juventus in sixth place. Atalanta came seventh, whilst Bologna, Lazio and Udinese rounded off the top ten.

Serie A 2026/2027: Matchday 1 fixtures

Below you will find the full fixtures for the first matchday:

Which clubs will be playing in Serie A in the 2026/2027 season?

As is the case every year, twenty teams will be competing in Serie A during the 2026/2027 season. Below is an overview of all the teams:

Key matches in the 2026/2027 Serie A season

Once you’ve had a look at all the teams in Serie A, it’s immediately clear that there are plenty of top clubs. And where there are top teams, there are top matches. How about the Rome and Milan derbies? It’s no coincidence that the Derby della Madonnina between Inter and AC Milan is one of the biggest matches in the world. In Rome, AS Roma and Lazio face off in the Derby della Capitale, whilst in Turin the Derby della Mole between Juventus and Torino is on the programme. Who will be crowned the city’s king, if only for a short while?

The Derby d’Italia between Inter and Juventus is also a must-watch, especially as it pits the two most successful teams in Italian football history against one another. In addition, the matches between Juventus and AC Milan, Napoli and Juventus, and Inter and Napoli are all key fixtures in the battle for the Scudetto. It is no coincidence that these are the teams that have won one or more league titles in recent decades.

Favourites for the Serie A title

This season’s Serie A looks set to be another thrilling battle for the Scudetto. Inter start as reigning champions and are therefore clear favourites. That’s hardly surprising when you have Lautaro Martinez, a multiple top scorer in Serie A. They are also fortunate to have players such as Nicoló Barella and Federico Dimarco playing for the Milan side. A new league title for Inter Milan will earn you odds of 1.91.

One of the main challengers will be Napoli. The club finished second last season and is looking to reduce the 11-point gap behind Inter this time round. With players such as Rasmus Højlund and Kevin de Bruyne, Napoli have some interesting attacking options. If you reckon the Neapolitans will win the Scudetto, you’ll be betting at odds of 5.50.

Of course, Juventus shouldn’t be written off either. Italy’s record champions finished only sixth last season, but have enough quality to get back into the title race. Especially as someone like Kenan Yıldız is only too keen to make a name for himself at the world’s biggest clubs. A league title for Juventus gives you odds of 6.00.

Dutch players in Serie A

With a particularly rich history of Dutch players in Serie A, it’s once again interesting this season to keep a close eye on a number of our compatriots.

Donyell Malen – AS Roma

One of the standout players is, of course, Donyell Malen. The forward had a brilliant second half of the season for AS Roma last season and is aiming to be the club’s top scorer again this year.

Teun Koopmeiners

Someone like Teun Koopmeiners is also one to watch. The former AZ Alkmaar player enjoyed a couple of brilliant seasons with Atalanta Bergamo, but doesn’t seem to have settled in Turin just yet. We hope he’ll manage to make a lasting impression this year.

Sam Beukema

Sam Beukema is another interesting prospect. The defender has already made an impression in Italy with Bologna and now plays for Napoli. He is guaranteed a place in the starting line-up and hopes to impress enough to convince Xavi to give him a place in the Dutch national team.

Denzel Dumfries & Stefan de Vrij

Denzel Dumfries and Stefan de Vrij, on the other hand, are no longer playing in Italy. The full-back left Inter for Real Madrid this summer after five seasons in Milan. Stefan de Vrij moved to Greece and now plays for Panathinaikos.

Frequently asked questions

When does the 2026/2027 Serie A season start?

The 2026/2027 Serie A season begins on the weekend of 22 and 23 August 2026. The season kicks off with the matches Fiorentina v AS Roma and Hellas Verona v Cagliari.

How many clubs play in Serie A?

Twenty clubs play in Serie A. Each club plays 38 matches, resulting in a total of 380 league matches being played.

Who are the reigning Italian champions?

Inter are the reigning Italian champions. The Milan-based club won the title in the 2025/2026 season with 87 points, eleven points clear of runners-up Napoli. This title marked the 21st Scudetto in the club’s history.

Which clubs have been promoted to Serie A?

Venezia, Frosinone and Monza are the three teams that have been promoted to Serie A. They take the places of Cremonese, Hellas Verona and Pisa, who have been relegated to Serie B.

Who are the favourites for the league title?

As is often the case, Inter are the favourites to win Serie A. Napoli, Juventus and AC Milan are major contenders, whilst AS Roma and Atalanta will also be looking to get involved in the battle for the top spots.