What are Serie A’s greatest ever title races?

There’s a delicious tension sweeping through Serie A as we pass the 13-game mark of the 2025/26 campaign: the top four sit locked within just two points.

That kind of tight clustering promises fireworks over the coming months – and if history is anything to go by, Italy’s top flight has produced some of the most gripping title deciders in European football.

As fans eye what might unfold this season, it’s worth taking a stroll down the most dramatic runs to the Scudetto in Serie A history.

1990-91: Sampdoria’s fairytale

Few title runs have carried the magic of Sampdoria’s only Serie A crown. In 1990-91, under their inspired strike force and tactical consistency, the Genoa-based club held off challenges from the usual giants, returning champions and European powerhouses.

Come the final day, with nerves frayed and hopes soaring, Sampdoria beat relegation-threatened opposition to clinch the title – a glorious moment sealed away from the shadows of more historically dominant clubs.

That season remains a sentimental favourite for its sheer romance: the underdog prevailed and the title belonged to the unexpected challenger.

1999-2000: Lazio’s dramatic final-day triumph

Just before the turn of the millennium, Lazio edged a memorable title race in 1999-2000, pipping traditional heavyweights to the crown.

With tension stretched to breaking point and expectations riding high, the Rome-based side pulled off what many considered improbable – they surged on the back of grit, team spirit and composure under pressure when it mattered most.

That final-day twist remains etched in Serie A folklore and is a reminder that giants don’t always win: sometimes, it’s about seizing your moment.

2007-08: Inter Milan survive a final-round test

By 2007-08, Inter Milan had established themselves as perennial contenders. But that season proved anything but routine. Heading into the last round, the Scudetto was hanging by a thread.

A nervy away match, a late comeback and a win under pressure saw Inter clinch the title, just ahead of a surging chasing pack. That narrow escape underscored how fraught Serie A title races could be, with margins measured in inches rather than miles.

2017-18: Juventus vs Napoli – grit meets flair

The 2017-18 campaign rewrote expectations. Juventus, the dominant force in Italy, faced a real challenge: Napoli under Maurizio Sarri, playing expansive, attacking football that enchanted Italy and beyond. Napoli even managed to beat Juventus at their home fortress.

Still, Juventus survived the test of pressure and ended up lifting the Scudetto – not by flamboyance, but by unshakeable mental fortitude and experience.

The duel between Juve’s steel and Napoli’s style made that season one of the most compelling battles in recent decades.

What the 2025-26 Scudetto race could become

Recent years have shown that Serie A’s guard is down and the title is now up for grabs by a broader pool than ever before. With multiple clubs claiming the crown across the last five seasons, predictability has given way to competitiveness.

The 2024–25 season exemplified that shift, with no team domineering over others. It reinforced the idea that form, momentum and fine margins – more than historical weight – now decide who takes home the Scudetto.

As the 2025-26 season unfolds with four teams separated by a slender two-point buffer, fans are getting a whiff of what made those old races unforgettable. The unpredictability that now blankets Serie A, combined with squads capable of title-winning performances, means we could be in for another vintage classic.

Whether underdog heroics, final-day thrillers, or a head-to-head tactical duel – there’s room for any of the scenarios that have carved Serie A legend.

Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

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