Serie A title race: Favourites and underdogs

With the season moving into a decisive stretch, the Serie A race has become one of the most compelling storylines in European football. Traditional heavyweights and ambitious challengers are separated by only a handful of points, turning every weekend into a high-stakes game of consistency, squad depth and tactical adaptability.

Inter have looked the most complete side for long spells, with a balanced blend of defensive solidity and attacking fluidity, even if the Nerazzurri have fallen short against direct rivals Milan and Juventus, losing to both.

The margin for error is slim. A single slip against a mid-table opponent can quickly open the door for rivals, especially Napoli and Milan, the only ones who have kept pace with Cristian Chivu’s side so far.

After a recent 2-0 win over his former club Parma, Chivu said: “What counts at the end of the day is the attitude of these lads, which was exceptional again this evening.

“Statistics and numbers are nice to read, but what matters is the hunger and ambition shown on the pitch. Serie A is not easy, nobody can be underestimated, and the dangers are always just around the corner.”

The unpredictability has fueled intense fan engagement, not only in stadiums and online, but also in the wider sports ecosystem. Supporters analyse form, injuries and tactical matchups in minute detail, and many explore responsible ways to add excitement to matchdays through betting sites that accept paypal, which offer convenience and faster transactions for users who prefer digital wallets.

Most Serie A pundits see Inter as the main favourite to win the Scudetto, especially because defending champions Napoli have suffered injuries to several key players, including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

Although the Partenopei won the Supercoppa Italiana just a few weeks ago, they are currently four points below the Nerazzurri ahead of their upcoming showdown at San Siro.

Somehow and despite their rich history, Milan are still the underdog in the race for the Scudetto. The Rossoneri don’t have the same quality or squad depth as Inter and Napoli, but don’t play in any European competition this season, which gives them more time to rest and prepare for every league game.

This proved to be crucial for Napoli in 2024-25, and Rossoneri fans hope history will repeat itself this term.

Juventus and Roma are not necessarily out of the Scudetto race, but Bianconeri and Giallorossi have been slightly more inconsistent than the top three teams, so their title hopes also depend on whether their rival will drop points along the way.