Serie A: Fixture Freeze, Tight Title Race, and Controversy Over Milan-Como Clash in Australia

2025-10-08 · Serie A

The 2025/26 Serie A season heats up with a packed schedule of high-stakes matches between November and January. Milan trails the leaders, with Juventus and Inter hot on their heels. Meanwhile, the decision to play Milan-Como in Perth sparks fierce debate among players and executives over logistics and commercial demands.

The Serie A league has officially released the schedule for early and postponed matches from Matchday 13 to 22 of the 2025/26 season, spanning November 28, 2025, to January 26, 2026. Key fixtures include Roma vs. Napoli on Matchday 13, Napoli vs. Juventus on December 7, and Juventus vs. Roma on December 20. A standout event is the Milan vs. Como match, set to be played in Perth, Australia, between February 7–8, 2026, due to the unavailability of San Siro during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The new year will open with Cagliari vs. Milan on January 2, followed by a blockbuster Inter vs. Napoli clash on January 11.

The title race is heating up, with the updated standings showing Napoli and Roma tied at the top with 15 points, followed closely by Milan (13 points) and Juventus and Inter (both on 12 points). The battle for supremacy is shaping up to be fiercely contested, with elite teams in strong form. After a 0-0 draw between Juventus and Milan, the Rossoneri remain in third place, while the Bianconeri and Nerazzurri lurk just behind, both on 12 points.

Off the pitch, a major controversy has erupted over the decision to stage Milan vs. Como in Perth. Adrien Rabiot, Milan’s midfielder, called the trip to Australia 'completely crazy,' criticizing the grueling travel and disruption it would cause. In response, Luigi De Siervo, CEO of Serie A, fired back, stating that 'players earning millions are paid to do a job—play football' and should respect club and league decisions more.

De Siervo further argued that despite the logistical challenges, Serie A has prioritized player welfare, ensuring the team will travel in business class to make the sacrifice manageable for well-compensated top-tier athletes: 'Elite players, whose salaries reflect their efforts, should understand better than anyone that this is a sacrifice worth making.' The Perth match is an exceptional case, approved by UEFA under special circumstances due to San Siro’s unavailability during the Olympics.

The upcoming Matchday 7 features high-profile clashes, including Roma vs. Inter on Saturday, October 18 at 20:45, Milan vs. Fiorentina on Sunday, October 19, and a tricky Como vs. Juventus on Sunday morning. The schedule is packed with pivotal matches that could significantly reshape the standings. With the season in full swing, every point is crucial, and each game presents an opportunity to either solidify or upend the current hierarchy.

In summary, with a star-studded fixture list and an ultra-competitive title race, the 2025/26 Serie A is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling seasons in years. Meanwhile, the Milan-Como Perth debate has reignited discussions about the balance between commercial demands and sporting integrity, raising questions about the future of Italian football’s global expansion and its unprecedented challenges.