Serie A Big 5: Who has the toughest start in 2025-26?

ROME, ITALY – MAY 14: Rafael Leao of AC Milan is challenged by Sam Beukema of Bologna during the Coppa Italia Final match between AC Milan and Bologna at Stadio Olimpico on May 14, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images)

Milan probably have the toughest start to the season among the big five, facing Bologna, Napoli, Juventus, Fiorentina, Atalanta and Roma in the first ten games.

The Serie A fixture list for the 2025-26 campaign was released on Friday.

Football Italia has put down the opening ten games for the big five teams in Italy: Napoli, Inter, Juventus, Roma and Milan and the Rossoneri seem to have the toughest fixture list.

Milan have toughest Serie A start in 2025-26

Massimiliano Allegri’s men, in fact, will meet many of their direct rivals in the opening ten games, and the Derby della Madonnina against Inter will come shortly afterwards in Round 12.

Roma haven’t been quite lucky with the draw either, making their debut against Bologna at home, meeting city rivals Lazio in Round 4 and then Fiorentina, Inter and Milan.

Soft Napoli start in 2025-26 Serie A

Defending champions Napoli will face both Milanese sides in the opening ten rounds, as well as Fiorentina away, but they will also encounter two newly promoted teams, Sassuolo and Pisa.

Inter have big games against Juventus, Roma and Napoli as well as Fiorentina, but also matches against Cremonese and Sassuolo coming from Serie B.

Juventus host Atalanta and Milan in consecutive matches in Rounds five and six, but the first big game for them is in Round 3 against Inter, also at the Allianz Stadium.

Napoli **

Sassuolo-Napoli
Napoli-Cagliari
Fiorentina-Napoli
Napoli-Pisa
Milan-Napoli
Napoli-Genoa
Torino-Napoli
Napoli-Inter
Lecce-Napoli
Napoli-Como

Inter ***

Inter vs Torino
Inter vs Udinese
Juventus vs Inter
Inter vs Sassuolo
Cagliari vs Inter
Inter vs Cremonese
Roma vs Inter
Napoli vs Inter
Inter vs Fiorentina
Verona vs Inter

Juventus ***

Juventus-Parma
Genoa-Juventus
Juventus-Inter
Verona-Juventus
Juventus-Atalanta
Juventus-Milan 
Como-Juventus
Lazio-Juventus
Juventus-Udinese
Cremonese-Juventus

Roma ****

Roma-Bologna
Pisa-Roma
Roma-Torino
Lazio-Roma
Roma-Verona
Fiorentina-Roma
Roma-Inter
Sassuolo-Roma
Roma-Parma
Milan-Roma

Milan *****

Milan-Cremonese
Lecce-Milan
Milan-Bologna
Udinese-Milan
Milan-Napoli
Juventus-Milan
Milan-Fiorentina
Milan-Pisa
Atalanta-Milan
Milan-Roma

difficulty level from * to *****