Inter Favored to Retain Scudetto as Roma Lead Serie A on Goal Difference

Inter are bookmakers' favorites to retain the Scudetto, but Roma lead the early Serie A table on goal difference with Juventus and Milan also in pursuit.

Cristian Chivu's Inter are the defending Serie A champions after a comfortable march to the Scudetto last season, a success that made Chivu only the fourth coach in the league's history to win the title before turning 50. The Nerazzurri opened the new campaign chasing a repeat that no recent Italian champion has delivered.

No Serie A club has won consecutive league titles in seven years. Juventus were the last to do it, in 2018 and 2019, and although Inter have since collected three Scudetti of their own, both of their previous attempts at going back-to-back came up short.

The current defense has started strongly. Inter won their opening four league matches, twice fighting back from two-goal deficits, and nearly made it three comeback wins in a row against Roma last time out, rallying from two goals behind before settling for a 2-2 draw against the table-toppers.

Inter now sit second, separated from Roma only by goal difference. Bookmakers nonetheless make them clear favorites to retain the title at 1.6, well ahead of Roma at 6.0, with Juventus and Milan both priced at 9.0.

Roma have been the most convincing challenger so far. Gian Piero Gasperini ended the club's eight-year Champions League absence in his first season and has lifted expectations further, with his side — searching for a first Scudetto in more than two decades — winning four of their five league games. They are the only Serie A team to have scored at least twice in every match, with Donyell Malen in sharp form and Paulo Dybala back to his best.

Juventus have three wins from five despite a major injury crisis at the Allianz Stadium. Luciano Spalletti's team followed a 3-2 defeat at Sassuolo with a 2-0 victory over Atalanta and has coped reasonably well without forward Kenan Yildiz and midfielder Khephren Thuram. Summer arrivals Nick Woltemade, Pape Matar Sarr, Jhon Lucumi and Kerim Alajbegovic have added quality as the record Italian champions pursue a first Scudetto in six years.

Milan missed out on Champions League qualification in a heartbreaking end to last season and responded by sacking Massimiliano Allegri and hiring Ruben Amorim despite his underwhelming spell at Manchester United. The 19-time Italian champions have three wins from five, including a 3-0 victory over Lecce before the September international break, and have shown more attacking intent under their new coach. Integrating summer signings Goncalo Ramos and Diego Moreira is the next step.

The challenges ahead differ for each contender. Roma must show their early momentum can last a full season, Juventus need greater consistency through their injury problems and biggest fixtures, and Amorim has to balance Milan's attacking ambition with defensive solidity while getting the best from his new signings.