A Data-Led Look at Serie A’s Leading Contenders

Serie A has delivered one of its most competitive starts in recent years. The top five clubs are separated by just three points, with Juventus and Como also within striking distance. Inter lead the table, but each contender has shown distinct strengths that keep the title race wide open. Here is a breakdown of what each team is doing well so far.

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FC Inter

Inter sit atop the table with 24 points and have been prolific in attack, scoring 26 goals in 11 games, while no other team has reached 20. They have been especially dangerous from wide areas, leading the league with 120 crosses into a dangerous position. Federico Dimarco is once again having an excellent offensive season, leading Serie A in crossing grade (98.6) and crosses that create clear chances (12). He is also tied for the league lead in assists with four. Several teammates contribute heavily in wide delivery as well, with Çalhanoğlu (81.3), Barella (77.1) and Bastoni (75.8) all ranking in the top three for crossing grade within their positions.

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Inter’s passing and scoring threat extends well beyond crossing. Barella holds a 93.1 passing grade, ranks second in Serie A with seven completed line-breaking passes and leads the league with 63 passes into dangerous areas. Bastoni is tied with Barella for the most balls completed over the top with 16, while Dimarco leads the league with seven completed through balls. Further ahead, Çalhanoğlu has been a major scoring threat, leading Serie A with five goals and ranking second in shooting grade at 91.6.

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AS Roma

Roma have not matched Inter’s attacking output, but they sit level on points thanks to an impressive defensive record. They have conceded only five goals in 11 matches. Center backs Gianluca Mancini and Evan Ndicka are both among the league’s best in key defensive categories. Mancini leads Serie A with 23 blocks, while Ndicka leads the league with 86 intercepted passes. Their duel work has also been strong. Mancini ranks third in challenge grade (88.0) and Ndicka ranks tenth in aerial duel grade (85.5). Mancini and full back Zeki Çelik also excel at recovering loose balls, with fifty-fifty duel grades of 91.8 (1st) and 83.6 (5th).

In attack, Paulo Dybala is the creative engine. His passing grade of 83.1 ranks sixth in the league, and he leads Serie A in through-ball passing with a 91.0 grade. He has also been a threat from set pieces, completing 14 crosses, the fourth-highest total in the competition. Supporting him are Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini. Soulé leads the team with three goals, and his 83.1 shooting grade is bettered only by Pellegrini (87.0) and Dybala (84.1).

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AC Milan

Luka Modrić’s Real Madrid career may be behind him, but at 40 he remains the central figure in a title-contending side. The veteran midfielder owns the highest passing grade across all leagues this season at 99.5 and is a major reason Milan have rebounded from last year’s eighth-place finish. He leads the team with three assists and has been outstanding on set pieces, recording 20 crosses into dangerous areas and 16 completed crosses, both league-best tallies.

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While Modrić orchestrates play, Milan’s wing-backs and forwards are also contributing. Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leão and Alexis Saelemaekers are all tied for the league lead with three passes that create clear chances. Pulisic holds an 84.0 passing grade, fifth in Serie A, while left wing-back Pervis Estupiñán ranks ninth at 81.4. Pulisic is enjoying a strong season overall, joint-top scorer for Milan with four goals and a 73.1 shooting grade. Leão also has four goals and an 84.0 shooting grade.

Defensively, Milan’s pressing has been relentless. Youssouf Fofana leads the league with 465 pressures and holds an 80.5 tackling grade. He is supported by Saelemaekers, who ranks third in pressures with 412 and first in tackling grade at 94.2. Modrić contributes as well, ranking 11th with 292 pressures and seventh in tackling grade at 87.4. In the air, center backs Gabbia and Pavlovic have been imposing. Gabbia leads Serie A in aerial duel grade with 90.3, and Pavlovic ranks 18th at 83.2.

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SSC Napoli

The defending champions remain in the race thanks to the scoring output of former Manchester United duo Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund, along with the strong defensive partnership of Alessandro Buongiorno and Amir Rrahmani.

Højlund and McTominay each have two goals, tied for the team lead. Their shooting grades of 84.2 and 79.8 rank seventh and 26th in the league. McTominay also adds a strong dribbling threat from central areas, posting a 77.5 dribbling grade, 24th in Serie A.

At the back, Buongiorno and Rrahmani form a rugged pairing, excelling in defensive duels. Buongiorno ranks 13th in challenge grade at 84.8, while Rrahmani ranks 17th at 83.7.

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Napoli’s biggest concern is their mounting injuries. With Kevin De Bruyne and Zambo Anguissa both sidelined long term, Napoli must find a way to replace their creativity and work rate. De Bruyne led the team with an 80.8 through-ball passing grade, while Anguissa ranked first among midfielders in aerial duel grade (84.4) and sixth in tackling (80.9).

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Six teams remain within touching distance at the top of Serie A, and each contender brings a distinct strength to the title race. Inter’s wide creativity, Roma’s defensive solidity, Milan’s midfield control, and Napoli’s resilience despite injuries all contribute to a compelling season. With margins this small, the title may come down to which squad can sustain its strengths and stay healthiest as the campaign progresses.

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