Serie A is in its Most Competitive Season in a Decade
The start of the Italian Serie A is the most even in the last decade, with only four points separating the top nine teams, making it one of the three most contested starts of the century, only surpassed by the 2008-09 season, where the difference was three points.
So far, this season of Italian football has no clear frontrunner. Napoli is at the top, but other teams like Torino, which hasn't held that position in 47 years, have also shone.
The inconsistency of the main contenders has contributed to this parity, as none have achieved a perfect record, something unusual in recent years of Juventus dominance, unexpected Napoli surprises, and Inter's dominance, where all were accustomed to winning most of their matches without trouble.
There are only two unbeaten teams: Napoli and Juventus, in first and second place, respectively. Napoli has dropped only two points in a draw against Juventus, which has accumulated three consecutive scoreless draws.
Napoli leads with 13 points, followed by Juventus with 12, and Milan, Inter, and Torino tied with 11. Empoli occupies sixth place with 10 points, tied with Lazio and Udinese. Closing the top nine is Roma, with 9 points.
Outside the top ten, Atalanta and Fiorentina have had a modest start with 7 points.
In the 2008-09 season, the top nine teams in Serie A were even more balanced with six matchdays played. Lazio, Udinese, and Inter had 13 points, while Palermo and Atalanta were behind with 12; Napoli and Catania with 11; and Milan and Fiorentina with 10, all within three points in the most balanced start of the century.
In the 2011-12 season, a similar situation occurred, with Juventus and Udinese tied at 11 points, and Napoli, Palermo, and Cagliari with 10; Roma, Lazio, and Chievo with 8; Fiorentina and Genoa with 7.