It has been a season of sharp contrasts in Serie A — domestic triumph sitting alongside European embarrassment, brilliant football punctuated by scandal and controversy. As the 2025-26 campaign draws to a close, the overriding feeling is one of a league still searching for its footing on the continent, even as it produced moments of genuine quality at home.

Inter's Redemption Under Chivu

The story of the season belongs to Inter Milan, who completed their first domestic double since 2010, winning both Serie A and the Coppa Italia. It is a remarkable turnaround for a club that went into the campaign carrying the weight of a catastrophic 2024-25 finish — a season in which they chased four trophies and won nothing.

Much of the credit goes to head coach Cristian Chivu, a appointment greeted with widespread scepticism when he was handed the job despite only 13 games of senior management experience. Losing two of his first three matches did little to quieten the doubters. But Inter found their rhythm, and once they did, the title race was rarely in genuine doubt. They finished the season having scored 89 league goals — a figure that puts the rest of the division firmly in the shade. Left wing-back Federico Dimarco was named Serie A's official MVP, a reward for a season of consistent, high-level contribution.

Como's Remarkable Journey

If Inter were the dominant force, Como were the season's most compelling subplot. The Lario club — playing in the fourth tier as recently as 2019 — finished the campaign having qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history. Under manager Cesc Fàbregas, they scored 65 league goals and played some of the most attractive football in the division, developing a coherent tactical identity while nurturing several exciting young talents.

Whether you consider it a genuine fairy tale, however, depends on your appetite for nuance. Como's ascent has been bankrolled by billionaire owners, and their squad is composed almost entirely of foreign players. The underdog label feels a stretch, even if the football has been a genuine pleasure to watch.

European Humiliation and Domestic Scandal

Off the pitch, the season was overshadowed by a series of damaging episodes. Inter's European campaign collapsed in the Champions League playoff round, beaten by Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt. Juventus conceded seven goals to Galatasaray. Napoli, last season's Scudetto winners, failed to progress beyond the group stage altogether. Atalanta at least reached the last 16 — becoming the only Italian side to do so — before being thrashed 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich.

In the Europa League, Bologna defeated Roma only to lose 7-1 across two legs to Aston Villa. Fiorentina were 4-0 down to Crystal Palace in their Europa Conference League quarter-final and never truly recovered, despite a late consolation.

Domestically, the season was not without ugliness either. A refereeing scandal in April saw Italy's top-flight match officials designator suspend himself from duties. A scheduling clash between the Rome derby and the Italian Open tennis finals required court intervention to resolve. And a controversial incident in the Derby d'Italia in February, in which Alessandro Bastoni was widely accused of exaggerating contact to earn a red card for an opponent, generated fierce debate about the game's integrity.

McTominay's Contribution at Napoli

Amid Napoli's European disappointment, Scott McTominay continued to make his mark in Serie A, providing a consistent engine in midfield and proving that his debut campaign in Italy was no flash in the pan. The Scotland international has become one of the more respected British exports in the division.

The Numbers Tell Their Own Story

Serie A produced just 922 goals this season — an average of 2.43 per game, the lowest in the Italian top flight since 1993-94. On one bleak October weekend, only nine goals were scored across nine fixtures. The league has work to do if it wants to compete with the Premier League and La Liga for global attention. The double triumph of Inter and the emergence of Como offer some reason for optimism. The rest is harder to spin.

FAQs

Frequently asked

Who won Serie A in 2025-26?
Inter Milan won the 2025-26 Serie A title as part of a domestic double, also claiming the Coppa Italia — their first such achievement since 2010.
Who was Serie A MVP in 2025-26?
Federico Dimarco, Inter Milan's left wing-back, was named Serie A's official Most Valuable Player for the 2025-26 season.
Did any Italian club do well in Europe in 2025-26?
It was a poor year overall for Italian clubs in Europe. Atalanta were the only Serie A side to reach the Champions League last 16, but they were then eliminated by Bayern Munich, losing 10-2 on aggregate.