Serie A weekend round-up: Top three get new year underway in style

As 2025 turned into 2026, the first games of the new year saw the top three in Serie A tighten their grip on the title race, especially while the nearest challengers faltered. 

Meanwhile, at the bottom, it's all square after Fiorentina's late, late winner ruffled the feathers in the relegation zone. 

Here's a round-up of the big talking points from Serie A's matchday 18.

Setting the tone for 2026 

The new year has kicked off with a distinctive look to the top of Serie A, as the top three slowly begin to break away from the rest. 

Milan began the weekend with a hard-fought win over Cagliari on Friday evening, where Max Allegri shuffled his pack and rested Christian Pulisic in attack, and it just about paid off. Rafael Leao getting the only goal of the game, in a match that saw Niclas Fullkrug make his debut after signing on loan from West Ham to beef up the Rossoneri's attack. 

That put the onus on Napoli and Inter on Sunday, and both came up with impressive wins. The champions took all three points off former boss Mauricio Sarri at Lazio in a 2-0 win, while Inter returned to the top of the table with a 3-1 victory over Bologna. 

With Roma and Juventus dropping points once again, it looks like the Serie A title tussle is now a three-way fight for sure.

 

Fiorentina in the fight 

Fiorentina will want to forget the second half of 2025, where, having finished in the European places last season, the Viola had to wait 16 games before tasting their first victory of the current campaign. 

Now, they finally doubled down on the wins this past weekend, with a last-gasp victory over Cremonese. Moise Kean hit a 92nd-minute winner for Paolo Vanoli's men, and it could be the goal that turns around their season. 

It unbelievably means that Fiorentina are now level on points with Pisa and Hellas Verona in the bottom three and now just three off safety. 

Is 2026 ready for a great escape in Florence? 
 

Roma's achielles heel 

Saturday night was an emotional occasion for Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini as he returned to the New Balance Arena to face the club where he's seen as a legend.

Unfortunately, it didn't end in the way he'd like either, as he and his newest side once again failed to turn up for a big occasion. 

Roma have looked like possible title contenders this season and have continued to keep up the pace with the top three. Still, their inability to take points off any of the teams around them has seen them start to fall away in the championship picture. 

So far, they've succumbed to defeats against Inter, Milan, Napoli, and Juventus. While Atalanta aren't in the same bracket as those sides, this was still a big game for the club and the manager, and they once again failed the test. 

Results from Serie A matchday 18

Friday, January 2 

• Cagliari 0-1 Milan 

Saturday, January 3 

• Como 1-0 Udinese 
• Genoa 1-1 Pisa 
• Sassuolo 1-1 Parma  
• Juventus 1-1 Lecce 
• Atalanta 1-0 Roma 

Sunday, December 28

• Lazio 0-2 Napoli  
• Fiorentina 1-0 Cremonese 
• Hellas Verona 0-3 Torino  
• Inter 3-1 Bologna 

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