Title race: Midfield the key for Napoli, Inter, Milan, Juve, Roma | OneFootball

Tactical Analysis: Who Has the Most Complete Engine to Win the Tricolor

Title Race, the Midfield Decides Everything: Comparison Between Napoli, Inter, Milan, Juve, and Roma

In modern football, midfield supremacy is the key to victory. In Serie A 2025-26, where tactics and physicality intertwine more than ever, true balance comes from the midfield. From Antonio Conte to Gian Piero Gasperini, from Massimiliano Allegri to Igor Tudor, every coach knows that controlling the midfield is what separates a championship team from a mere contender.

Here is the complete analysis and comparison of the midfields of the top five big teams in the league — Napoli, Inter, Milan, Juventus, and Roma — to understand who has the most powerful engine in the race for the title.

Napoli and the “Fab Four”: Power, Technique, and Territorial Domination

Antonio Conte's Napoli probably has the most complete midfield in Serie A. To make the most of all his stars — De Bruyne, McTominay, Anguissa, and Lobotka — the coach from Salento has devised a fluid 4-1-4-1, allowing the ball to move quickly and consistently between the lines.

The numbers are clear:

First place for average possession and completed passes,

Best passing accuracy percentage in Italy.

The only weak point: McTominay's hybrid position, forced to start wider to make room for the Belgian. Conte will need to find a balance that doesn't hinder his offensive effectiveness. But in terms of intensity and quality, Napoli remains the team to beat.

Roma, Balance and Muscle in Gasperini's “Working-Class” Midfield

Gasperini's Roma doesn't have the big names of its rivals, but compensates with organization and collective spirit. The coach has built the heart of the team on Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante: the first is the man everywhere, the second the guarantor of balance.

A more “working-class” than imaginative midfield, in full Gasperini style. The data confirms:

4th for attempted passes,

10th for accuracy percentage (80.6%).

Roma relies on physical strength and tactical discipline, but the lack of technical quality could weigh in the title race.

Milan, the Intelligence of Modric and Rabiot Guides the Renaissance

Milan is the team that has changed the most compared to last season. The arrival of Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot has completely transformed the midfield and the entire tactical setup.

With them, Allegri has found stability and fluidity: Milan is now first for successful pass percentage, a sign of clean and orderly play. The third cog in the engine is Youssouf Fofana, generous and dynamic.

Behind them, high-level alternatives: Ricci, Jashari, and Loftus-Cheek, a rare depth for a team playing only one competition a week. An experienced, balanced, and mature midfield: a championship hallmark.

Inter, Glorious Past and Present in Search of Freshness

Inter's midfield, dominant in recent seasons, remains one of the best for quality and understanding. The Barella–Calhanoglu–Mkhitaryan trio is synonymous with balance and vision of the game, but the new season has brought some questions.

The arrival of Sucic and Diouf has provided alternatives, but not a true structural change. The “gap” left by Asllani as Calhanoglu's deputy is still evident, and the team suffers a drop in moments of high intensity.

In summary: a lot of quality, but less brilliance compared to the past. And in a league where Napoli and Milan are racing, every detail matters.

Juventus, the Weak Point is Right in the Heart of the Game

For Juventus, the midfield remains the Achilles' heel. Tudor relies on Locatelli and Thuram, the only pair truly capable of ensuring balance between construction and interception.

The alternatives, however, are not convincing: Koopmeiners has yet to find consistency, while McKennie is used more as a tactical joker than as a true starter. The lack of quality and depth in the middle also reflects on the attack, often isolated and poorly supplied.

Without targeted interventions in the January market, Juve risks paying dearly for the weakness of its central department.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.