Serie A 2026-27: Inter Defend Title, Allegri Replaces Conte at Napoli, and Como Enter 1st-Ever Champions League

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga

image Serie A 2026-27: Inter Defend Title, Allegri Replaces Conte at Napoli, and Como Enter 1st-Ever Champions League
Inter won the Scudetto with three games to spare last season. Napoli finished second, lost Antonio Conte, and replaced him with the man AC Milan had just sacked: Massimiliano Allegri. But the headline of the last Serie A season was Como qualifying for the Champions League, marking the first time in history they’ll sing the beautiful Anthem. And Monza, back in Serie A after a single season in Serie B, open their campaign with an away trip to the defending champions. The 2026-27 season kicks off today, August 22, with Inter hosting Monza and Genoa welcoming Napoli under Allegri.
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Inter, Napoli, Juve Face Tricky First Weekend

Cristian Chivu's side clinched their 21st title on May 3, beating Parma 2-0 at home to seal the Scudetto with three rounds still to play. Inter now opens their Serie A defence this evening at San Siro against promoted Monza, who have lost just three of their last 23 competitive games.

And then, about two hours later, it’s Genoa vs Napoli. In truth, Gli Azzurri (The Blues) have had it easy versus the visitors as of late, with two wins in their last three tangos. 

The real problem might be for Juventus, who travel to face Serie B runners up, Frosinone, on Sunday. The Old Ladies may have beaten them in six of seven meetings, but Frosinone have now won five straight competitive games, and eight of their last nine without a defeat.

Allegri at Napoli: History Repeating

The biggest story of the summer happened off the pitch. Conte left Napoli by mutual consent on May 24 after securing a Scudetto and a second-place finish across two seasons.

One day later, AC Milan sacked Allegri following what the club called an "unequivocal failure" of a season that ended with Milan missing out on Champions League football on the final day.

Within weeks, Napoli appointed Allegri on a contract until 2029. The parallel with Juventus in 2014, when Allegri replaced Conte at the Old Lady and went on to win five straight titles, has not been lost on anyone in Italian football.

Allegri inherits a squad that still employs Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne but has lost Romelu Lukaku, who completed a move to Fenerbahce this August. So ensure to see our Genoa vs Napoli prediction before you bet.

Como: From Serie B to the Champions League in Three Seasons

No story in Italian football this decade matches Como's rise. Under Cesc Fabregas, the club climbed from Serie B to a top-four finish in Serie A and a place in the Champions League.

They are the 26th Italian club to reach a European competition, and their first appearance in Europe's top competition has caught the attention of the entire continent. Fabregas, still only 39, has built something at Como that nobody saw coming when he first took charge.

Seven Italian clubs are in European competition this season:

  • Inter, Napoli, Roma and Como in the Champions League
  • Milan and Juventus in the Europa League
  • Atalanta in the Conference League.

Serie A’s Managerial Purge

the Allegri-Conte swap at Napoli, Maurizio Sarri left Lazio by mutual consent, Vincenzo Italiano departed Bologna, and Milan are rebuilding under new coaching leadership after Allegri's sacking.

And the first major test arrives quickly as Inter host Napoli on September 5, followed by Juventus vs Milan the next day. For now, the focus is topping the table early on, so you can expect a dramatic opening day from the giants.