Serie A is weird this year. Honestly, if you looked at the table back in August, you probably wouldn't have guessed we'd be sitting here in January 2026 with a title race that feels both inevitable and chaotic at the same time. Inter Milan is currently parked at the top of the Serie A league standings with 46 points after 20 matches. They just beat Lecce 1-0 thanks to a Pio Esposito goal, and while that scoreline looks slim, the gap they're creating is anything but.
It’s kinda wild.
Inter has managed to keep 10 clean sheets so far. That’s half their games. When you aren't conceding, you aren't losing, and Cristian Chivu’s men have only tasted defeat four times despite some heavy rotation. They’ve scored 43 goals, the most in the division, led by Lautaro Martínez who has already hit double digits. He’s got 10. He’s the engine. But the real story isn't just Inter; it’s the pile-up happening right behind them.
The Scramble for the Top Four
You’ve got AC Milan and Napoli basically breathing down each other's necks. Both sit on 40 points, though Milan has a game in hand as of mid-January. Massimiliano Allegri has Milan on this incredible 19-match unbeaten streak in the league, which sounds like they should be first, right? But too many draws—seven of them—have kept them from leapfrogging the Nerazzurri.
Napoli is the defending champ, and under Antonio Conte, they’ve turned into a "zombie" team. They won't die. They’ve recovered more points from losing positions than almost anyone else. They just drew 0-0 with Parma, which felt like a missed opportunity, but they’re still very much in the hunt for the winter Scudetto.
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Then it gets crowded.
Juventus and Roma are tied at 39 points.
Luciano Spalletti has Juventus playing a much more disciplined style, and they actually have a better goal difference (+16) than either Milan or Napoli. Kenan Yildiz is the breakout star there with 7 goals. Meanwhile, Roma—now managed by Gian Piero Gasperini—is the league's "all or nothing" team. They have 13 wins and 7 losses. Zero draws. Literally zero. It’s a fascinating tactical experiment; they either destroy you or they get caught on the break.
The Como Surprise and the Mid-Table Mud
Nobody talks about Como enough. Seriously. Cesc Fàbregas has them in 6th place with 34 points. For a team that was just promoted, that is borderline insane. They have the highest possession in the league (over 60%), largely because they’ve got players like Nico Paz and Jesus Rodríguez pulling the strings in midfield. They’ve already combined for 12 assists.
Behind them, the usual suspects like Atalanta (31 pts) and Lazio (28 pts) are hovering. Lazio’s Ivan Provedel has been a wall, matching Inter for the most clean sheets in the league. It’s a dogfight for those Europa League spots.
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The Relegation Nightmare
The bottom of the Serie A league standings is depressing if you’re a fan of historical giants. Fiorentina is in 18th place. Yes, you read that right. The Viola have only 14 points. They went on a 15-match winless run that has left the Stadio Artemio Franchi in a state of permanent anxiety. They finally beat Udinese 5-1 recently, but the damage might be done. No team in history has gone 14 games without a win and stayed up, so they are fighting against ghosts at this point.
Hellas Verona and Pisa are rooted to the bottom with 13 points each. Verona is a defensive sieve, having conceded 31 goals, while Pisa just can't find the net. It’s a long way back for them.
- Inter: 46 points (1st) - Defensive juggernaut.
- AC Milan: 40 points (2nd) - The "draw" kings.
- Napoli: 40 points (3rd) - Conte's grit.
- Fiorentina: 14 points (18th) - The shock of the season.
Why These Stats Actually Matter
If you’re looking at the xG (expected goals) data from sources like FBref or Opta, it suggests Inter isn't just lucky; they’re efficient. They have an xG of 35.3 but have actually scored 43. That means their strikers—Lautaro and Thuram—are finishing chances that the average player would miss.
On the flip side, Roma’s lack of draws tells you they don't know how to "manage" a game when things go south. Gasperini’s high-press system is exhausting. By the 70th minute, they either have the game wrapped up or they're falling apart. This volatility makes them the most dangerous team to bet on or against.
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Looking forward, the schedule is about to get brutal. Inter has to balance a deep Champions League run with these domestic fixtures. We’ve seen in years past that Italian squads often prioritize Europe once the "Round of 16" starts in February. If Inter drops even 5% in intensity, that 6-point lead over Milan could evaporate in two weekends.
The "Magic Number" for safety is usually 40 points, but this year the bottom is so bad that 33 or 34 might actually keep you in the league. This gives teams like Lecce (17 pts) and Cagliari (19 pts) a massive cushion that they probably don't deserve based on their play.
Actionable Insights for Fans
Pay attention to the "points after falling behind" metric. Napoli and Inter are the masters of the comeback this year. If they go down 1-0 early, don't count them out. Conversely, if you see Fiorentina leading 1-0, history this season says they are the most likely team to bottle it and lose 2-1.
Keep an eye on the January transfer window. Rumors are swirling about Milan looking for more depth in the midfield to turn those draws into wins. If they land a high-volume creator, the second half of the season will be a sprint to the finish. Check the official Lega Serie A site every Monday morning; the shifts in the bottom three are happening faster than the top right now.