The New Face of Serie A 2025-2026: Tactics, Ownership, and TV Broadcasting

The Serie A 2025-2026 season officially begins, promising an intense and innovation-packed campaign across multiple dimensions—from tactical approaches to club ownership and the TV broadcasting that will accompany fans and enthusiasts throughout the long marathon until May 24, 2026.

Among the most surprising tactical developments is Antonio Conte’s decision to break away from the prevailing trend among Italy’s top clubs of using a three-man defense, fully embracing a four-man backline instead. As explained by Alberto Dalla Palma in Il Messaggero, this shift stems from practical considerations tied to squad composition and the desire to maximize offensive midfielders like Kevin De Bruyne, especially in the prolonged absence of Romelu Lukaku. Conte began refining this system in the second half of last season, adapting Matteo Politano to a more sacrificial wide role—a move reminiscent of Samuel Eto’o’s adaptation under José Mourinho.

Meanwhile, Serie A continues to embrace the so-called ‘Inzaghi module’—a hyper-offensive 3-5-2 formation—adopted by numerous coaches, including Simone Inzaghi at Inter and partially emulated by Gian Piero Gasperini at Roma, Ivan Jurić at Atalanta, Igor Tudor at Salernitana, and others. The preseason trend highlights the deployment of two attacking midfielders behind the striker, with stars like Edin Džeko, Carlos Soulé, and Paulo Dybala set to enhance creativity and attacking flair. Maurizio Sarri, however, remains loyal to his strict 4-3-3, underscoring the tactical diversity that defines the league.

On the ownership front, Serie A 2025-2026 increasingly reflects a global landscape, with clubs often backed by billionaire owners and investment funds, as highlighted in an exclusive report by Milano Finanza. Among the wealthiest ownership groups are Atalanta (backed by Stephen Pagliuca of Bain Capital), Como (owned by the Hartono brothers), Fiorentina (under Rocco Commisso), and, of course, Inter and Milan, managed by Oaktree Capital Management and RedBird Capital, respectively. Juventus remains the crown jewel of the Agnelli family’s Exor, while Roma operates under Dan Friedkin’s leadership.

However, there are also stable yet less financially colossal entities, such as Bologna (owned by Canadian Joey Saputo), Lazio (under Claudio Lotito), Napoli (led by Aurelio De Laurentiis), and Sassuolo (linked to the Squinzi family). Smaller or evolving groups control clubs like Cagliari, Genoa, Parma, and Udinese, with potential ownership changes on the horizon. This landscape reveals a financially stratified yet globally coveted league, where economic disparities coexist with ambition.

Completing this rich tapestry of innovations is the expansive and diversified TV broadcasting schedule, designed to make Serie A more accessible and engaging than ever. DAZN holds exclusive rights to seven matches plus three co-exclusive games, introducing a new evening show, ‘Fuoriclasse – Serie A Show’, hosted by Diletta Leotta, alongside weekend deep-dive programs. Sky retains three co-exclusive fixtures, complemented by a robust lineup of evening analysis shows from Friday to Monday. Mediaset and Rai remain key players, offering dedicated match coverage and in-depth programming across various time slots, ensuring comprehensive accessibility.

The start of the season thus brings not only on-field challenges but also an environment where historical tactics and innovations coexist, financial solidity grows ever more critical, and fan passion is fueled by a rich media offering. As this inaugural phase encapsulates, the focus now shifts to the months ahead, where only the spectacle on the pitch will determine the true protagonists of Serie A 2025-2026.