FEATURE: Five things to watch out for during 2025/26 Serie A season | OneFootball

The Serie A kicks off tomorrow and as Napoli look to defend their title for the second time in three seasons, there are so many narratives being crafted by fans and experts alike.

There is a lot to look forward to and as hours tick down, we look at five things to look forward to most for the viewers in the campaign.

Conte’s European question

Antonio Conte has historically struggled with managing a team in the league and in Europe. Now, Napoli have added quality depth to their side and have desperately managed to keep hold of the Italian, who has shown flexibility during his time in Naples.

How he manages a bigger squad than last season will be key for how the entire season pans out for the entirety of the division. Champions League has more games now than it used to and Napoli do not have the youngest side either.

Conte has struggled with game management during weeks when his teams play more than one game and this season will be a big test for him.

Gasperini’s Roma system

Roma’s appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini is one of the most astute pieces of managerial business done this summer. But having the Italian and keeping him happy is easier said than done.

Besides his constant demands in the transfer window, Gasperini is a profound believer in his system. Roma played in a completely different style under Claudio Ranieri last season and it will be a big transition for them, especially considering the amount of signings they have made.

DNA changes at clubs take time and Gasperini believes in long-term building. That is why Roma might have to sacrifice the present for the future and the Friedkin ownership is not the most patient.

Can Max Allegri take Milan to Europe?

Max Allegri is well known to overperform in his stints at various clubs. Milan’s recruitment relies on managing those resources well and Allegri, in that sense, is a good fit.

The Rossoneri will not play in Europe this season due to the struggles in the previous campaign and this will hand them an advantage over other clubs. Everything will come down to how Allegri manages resources and manages individual games, which is what he is well known for.

Helping Milan inside the European places will send a message the ever-so diplomatic Allegri is very much relevant at the highest level.

Chivu a stopgap appointment?

When Christian Chivu joined Inter after Simone Inzaghi’s exit, many fans were left confused. He has managed a top-flight club for only months during his stint at Parma. Even if that part of his career was impressive, fans expected more after Inzaghi left and not a new face.

Chivu is an ex-Inter player and uses quite the same formation as his predecessor. This will help him settle in quickly in Serie A but there are valid questions to be asked about whether he can help the club challenge at the same level.

The key question which will be answered this season is whether the Romanian is simply a stopgap to manage the transition or a long-term solution?

Will Como challenge for Europe?

Como made an underwhelming start to the previous season but recovered and finished at a pretty decent 10th spot. They have now kept hold of Cesc Fabregas and even if there is still talk around Nico Paz, him and Assane Diao are still at the club and more promising signings have been made.

As the season went on, Como’s identity shone through and it will likely get better this season. Boosted by signings like Martin Baturina, Jesus Rodriguez and Nicolas Kuhn, Fabregas’ side are a sure-shot top-ten side and their European qualification can come down to how they fare against the likes of Bologna, Fiorentina, Lazio and Torino.

It is certain that if not this season, they will be in Europe at some point. But if it happens this season, it would be a huge success for the project.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN