Serie A 2025-2026: Napoli starts strong, Milan stumbles, and the Fiorentina-Cagliari clash lights up the round

The Serie A 2025-2026 season opened with a first round full of surprises and standout performances. Napoli, the reigning champions, started on the right foot, securing a 2-0 away win against Sassuolo thanks to goals from McTominay, who scored the first goal of the season in the 17th minute, and De Bruyne, who added a free-kick in the 57th minute. Conte’s team displayed tactical balance and sharpness in key moments, especially after Konè’s red card, which complicated matters for the hosts.

Things didn’t go as well for Milan, who suffered an unexpected 2-1 home defeat to newly promoted Cremonese. Despite a promising start—hitting the post after just four minutes and having a goal disallowed—the Rossoneri fell behind in the 28th minute due to Baschirotto’s strike. Pavlovic equalized with a header just before halftime, but in the second half, Bonazzoli’s scissor-kick sealed the win for the visitors. Manager Allegri will need to rebuild confidence and form after this early setback.

Roma got off to a winning start, beating Bologna 1-0 thanks to a precise diagonal strike from Wesley in the 53rd minute. Despite Bologna’s determination and a few shots off the woodwork—including a Cristante post and a Castro crossbar—the Giallorossi held firm, showing solidity and resilience. An important result for the start of Gasperini’s project.

Today, another key matchup is on the cards: Cagliari and Fiorentina face off at Unipol Domus (6:30 PM) in an open and exciting clash. Cagliari’s rising manager, Fabio Pisacane, highlighted the toughness of the challenge and the aggressive qualities of Stefano Pioli’s Fiorentina, who returns to Serie A after his Saudi experience, aiming high with a competitive and ambitious squad. The match will be broadcast exclusively on Dazn and promises spectacle and intensity.

Italian football continues to engage fans in big numbers: a recent StageUp and Ipsos survey reveals that 29.4 million Italians follow Serie A, a surge in interest despite the league’s economic struggles and €4.7 billion in debt. As Palazzi stated, "The bond between Serie A and Italians is very strong and transcends temporary situations." This underscores football’s central role in the country’s sports culture and the passion that keeps the competition alive.

As the round continues, attention turns to Juventus-Parma, Atalanta-Pisa, Udinese-Verona, and Inter-Torino, with promising clashes that could shape early ambitions. The season has just begun, but it’s already delivering excitement and reaffirming Serie A’s status as a global football powerhouse.