Some early observations from 2026/27 Serie A season
It has been a whirlwind of an early exchange in the 2026/27 Serie A season. Say what you want about the league, it always finds ways to entertain and keep everyone on the edge of their seats.
To put into context how thrilling this early phase of the Italian top flight has been, first-placed Roma and eighth-placed Como are separated by just three points, showcasing how competitively teams have got going this time around.
New coaches. New faces. Title contenders clashing early on to lay down a marker. And a few teams beginning to fall by the wayside. Suffice it to say, Serie A has had a little bit of something for everyone.
Without further ado, here we present our early observations from the 2026/27 Serie A season.
Roma have burst out of the blocks in typical Gasperini fashion
Roma have continued where they left off from the second half of last season and find themselves in first place after five games. This comes as no surprise, as the players have finally seemed to buy into the methods implemented by their coach, Gian Piero Gasperini.
The Giallorossi have been prolific this season, with their overall goals tally (14) just one behind defending champions, Inter Milan. Donyell Malen has continued his renaissance since joining from Aston Villa and is the Serie A’s leading scorer with six goals, Paulo Dybala already has four assists, while the entire attack line of Malen, Dybala, Matias Soulé, and Rodrigo Mora has been an absolute tearaway, having proved to be an absolute menace to every team’s defence.
Their 2–2 draw against Inter proved that they are a very dangerous side up front, but Gasperini will be aware of the fact that, as good as they are on attack, they are just as much dangerously open at the back. They cannot let their brilliant start fritter away, as they almost did against Inter after going 2–0.
Even despite that blemish, Roma are serial entertainers and could very well be pronounced contenders in this season’s Serie A title race.
Lazio and Gattuso’s resurgence
In what has arguably been the most pleasant surprise of the season so far, Lazio under former Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso are currently joint-top of the standings, marking a significant resurgence for both club and manager.
With Gattuso failing to help Italy qualify for this year’s World Cup, and Lazio having just come out of a transfer embargo, both parties were in dire need of a change in fortunes, and so far it has been a perfect marriage between club and manager in the league on the pitch. Lazio are currently the second-best defensive side in Serie A along with Inter, having conceded just three goals in their opening five games, also keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Daniel Frattesi already looks like the signing of the season for Lazio, as his drive and impetus from the middle of the park are key factors in the Biancocelesti beginning the season so well. The 27-year-old has also scored three goals already, already marking himself as the linchpin of this Lazio side. Mattia Zaccagni and Nuno Tavares have also started the season strongly with two assists each.
With Lazio fans in a state of perpetual strife with club owner Claudio Lotito, they’re currently boycotting home games at the Olimpico, only travelling to away games to support the team. Amid the stand-off in the stands, Gattuso and his team’s promising start to the season could kick-start something special.
Milan coming to terms with “Amorim” ball
Speaking about rebuilding reputations, new Milan head coach Ruben Amorim has started rather promisingly, even if there are a few issues flaring up in this early stage of his Milan tenure.
The overlying numbers for Milan are positive: they’re fifth in the table but just two points off the top, having scored ten goals and conceded just four. There’s a welcome tactical flexibility about the Portuguese, who was known for staying rigid with his formations at Manchester United, which largely worked to his detriment.
Diego Moreira has emerged to be the star man for Milan, netting three goals and establishing himself as an invaluable member of the side, while Adrien Rabiot and new signing Gonçalo Ramos have also been able foils.
The way is long, and while the start has been good, Milan have not yet managed to get decisive victories. They were 2–0 down against Lazio before coming back to draw 2–2, while they failed to hold on to a 1–0 lead against Juventus, conceding in added time of the second half to drop two more points.
There is work to be done, but Amorim can be reasonably pleased about the start he has had at San Siro.
