Serie A: how the Italian league works
Serie A is synonymous with tactics. For decades, Italy was the school of the world's best defenders and the stage for legendary rivalries. This is your essential guide to the Italian league.
Format
Serie A is contested by 20 clubs over 38 matchdays, home and away. A win is worth 3 points and a draw 1 point.
Tie-breakers and the "extra match"
As in Spain, when two teams finish level on points, the first criterion is the head-to-head record between them. But Italy has a special rule: if the tie is for the title or for the last relegation place, it is settled by a play-off match (the spareggio) at the end of the season.
Relegation
The bottom 3 clubs drop to Serie B. The top two in Serie B and the winner of a play-off come up.
Italy's big clubs
- Juventus (Turin): the club with the most Italian league titles.
- Inter (Milan): one of the most successful clubs, with several European titles.
- AC Milan (Milan): one of the clubs with the most European Cups / Champions League titles in history.
Clubs such as Roma, Lazio, Napoli and Atalanta also carry great weight. Napoli, for example, will forever be linked to Diego Maradona.
The most famous derbies
| Derby | Teams |
|---|---|
| Derby della Madonnina | Inter vs Milan (they share the San Siro stadium) |
| Derby d'Italia | Inter vs Juventus |
| Derby della Capitale | Roma vs Lazio |
The famous "catenaccio"
Catenaccio ("door bolt" in Italian) was a highly defensive system that shaped Italian football from the 1960s. Today Italian teams play in many different ways, but the reputation for tactical organisation and great defenders remains.
Cup competitions in Italy
As well as Serie A, clubs compete in the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) and the Supercoppa Italiana (Super Cup).