Serie A 2025-26 season preview: The title contenders

Serie A has become one of the most competitive titles to win across Europe's elite leagues, and the race for the 2025-26 championship looks like being another tight one to call. 

No team has retained the trophy since 2020 and this year it will be Napoli's turn to try and defend their crown, and you can catch all the action live across the campaign on DAZN. 

We take a look at the challengers for this season's Serie A title. 

Napoli

• Last season: 1st
• Manager: Antonio Conte

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After waiting over thirty years to win another Serie A title in 2023, Napoli repeated the feat last season as Antonio Conte added another championship to his impressive CV - that's six and counting across Italy and England. 

Now the task will be for his side to keep hold of their crown, something an Italian side hasn't done for the past five seasons. However, Conte has form in this area having won three on the trot with Juventus in the mid-2010s and it's Napoli who still look like the team to beat. 

Scott McTominay, fresh off his Ballon d'Or nomination, will hope to continue his transformation in Naples, and he'll be aided this season by the class of Kevin De Bruyne, who has arrived as the league's headline signing. They've also added Noa Lang to their attack and bolstered the backline with the arrival of Sam Beukema. 

With the most settled setup and some new added elements, it will be a tough task wrestling the trophy from Napoli. 

Inter Milan 

• Last season: 2nd
• Manager: Cristian Chivu 

On paper, finishing second in the league and reaching the Champions League final doesn't seem like a defining end to an era, but Simone Inzaghi paid the price for not delivering a trophy in addition the collapse against PSG in last season's Champions League final which ushered in a new era at Inter. 

Leading that charge is former defender Crisitian Chivu, who has been given the reins after successfully keeping Parma in the division last season. 

It's a big leap for Chivu, and after getting a head start on others with Inter's involvement in the Club World Cup, he'll need to hit the ground running. Luis Enrique and Ange-Yoan Bonny have been added to give the team more zip, but they'll be once again relying on the likes of Denzal Dumfries and Latauro Martinez in their chase of the Serie A title. 

Juventus

• Last season: 4th 
• Manager: Igor Tudor 

Juventus were the last side to retain the Serie A title, but that last championship victory for the Old Lady was now five years ago. 

Igor Tudor is the latest name to try and get the club back to the pinnacle of Italian football, after he steadied the ship last season and earned the club a Champions League berth. Now the aim is to go one better and at least be in the conversation for a title challenge. 

To aid him and his side, Juve have secured the signature of Jonathan David, who will add another dimension to their attack, while Francisco Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez have completed permanent moves to Turin. Much will be expected of Kenan Yildiz, too, and seeing if he can kick on again this season. 

AC Milan

• Last season: 8th
• Manager: Massimiliano Allegri

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The wise old head of Max Allegri is back at the San Siro, looking to rekindle the magic that saw him lead Milan to a Serie A triumph in 2011. 

He'll get plenty of time this season with his squad, with Milan free from European distraction after last year's disappointing league finish, and it could open the door for a title challenge. 

With the likes of Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic, and Fikayo Tomori still part of the first-team picture, Milan have some big-name players to call upon, and have added Luka Modric to their ranks, bringing all his winning mentality. 

Ardon Jashari could also be one to watch, after his £30 million arrival from Club Brugge. 

Roma

• Last season: 5th 
• Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini

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The wildcard in the title picture comes from the capital as Roma and new boss Gian Piero Gasperini.

Gasperini arrives after spending a decade establishing Atalanta at Serie A's top table, but can his style propel Roma into title contenders and bag the title for the first time since 2017? 

It's a tall order, but they've made some interesting moves in the transfer market, including the arrival of Brighton striker Evan Ferguson on a season-long loan - get that right and they have a goalscorer on their hands.

Neil El Aynaoui and Wesley have also arrived, in what look like smart signings, so there's some cautious optimism in the capital that this could be a very fruitful campaign. 

Watch Serie A live on DAZN

Witness how the 2025/26 Serie A unfolds with over 300 games live on DAZN in the UK & Ireland; and in the US in Spanish language. For more information and to sign up to watch, click here.