Serie A hits 17 goalless draws in 11 rounds, Italian football defensive | OneFootball

Serie A has put on its “glasses.” After eleven matchdays, as many as seventeen games have ended 0-0: a statistic not seen in decades, emblematic of the current state of our football.

Serie A, record number of 0-0s: 17 scoreless matches in eleven rounds. Italian football increasingly defensive

Out of 110 total games, the percentage of matches without goals has reached 15.45%, a figure that brings to mind the 1970s and ’80s, when “catenaccio” and “counterattack” were the norm.

A negative record that says a lot about the 2025-26 Serie A: extreme defensive focus, tactics pushed to the limit, and a lack of offensive quality.

A merciless comparison with other European leagues

The comparison with other leagues is telling. According to data reported by Il Giornale, the Bundesliga has only 4 scoreless matches (4.44%), La Liga 4 (4.17%), Ligue 1 5 (4.63%), and the Premier League 7 (6.36%). Italy, with a rate three times higher than the other leagues, stands out as a unique case in Europe.

It’s a different kind of football, for sure. But also more static, cautious, and calculated. Balanced matches are not lacking, but the spectacle—the kind that fills stadiums and memories—seems to have been lost.

Why are there so few goals in Serie A?

The causes of this “goal crisis” are multiple and intertwined.

Poor finishing: Italian and foreign strikers in Serie A struggle to convert even the simplest chances.

Goalkeepers in the spotlight: our league boasts some of the best shot-stoppers on the continent, with 7 penalties saved already in the first eleven rounds.

Little effective playing time: the average of 53 real minutes per match is among the lowest in Europe.

Lack of dribblers and creativity: the ability to beat a man and create numerical superiority, once a trademark of Italian playmakers, has almost disappeared today.

The result is an organized but predictable football, where the primary goal remains not conceding rather than scoring one more than the opponent.

The return of caution: “whoever concedes less wins”

It’s no coincidence that coaches like Massimiliano Allegri and Antonio Conte have repeatedly emphasized a key concept: “The league is won by whoever concedes the fewest goals.” A dogma that has shaped the mentality of many teams, leading them to prioritize defensive balance over offensive risk.

Even “revolutionaries” like Gian Piero Gasperini—known for his aggressive football—now find themselves leading the table with just five goals conceded: a figure confirming how our football has gone “vintage,” if not outright retro.

From spectacle to efficiency: the dilemma of Italian football

Five years ago, there were only 19 goalless draws (5%) in the entire season. Today, in just over two months, the number is almost the same. In short, Serie A has closed in on itself, losing some of its unpredictability.

It’s not just a matter of aesthetics, but also of international appeal: less exciting football risks driving away fans and investors. A change of course is needed, a new push towards attacking play and creativity, to prevent Serie A from remaining the most tactical but also the least spectacular league in Europe.

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