Italy 2026/27 Preview Pt. 2: Bottom Half
The Italian league returns this weekend, and we’ve already taken a look at the teams we predict will fight for the title and the European spots. Part 2 of our preview of the 2026/27 Italian league season looks at the clubs we predict will finish in the bottom half of the table, including the relegation battle.
Not every top division club begins a new season dreaming realistically about the CL or worrying seriously about relegation.
For Bologna, Torino, Udinese, Genoa and Sassuolo, the most likely destination lies somewhere in between.
That does not make their seasons uninteresting. Bologna are trying to remain competitive after another summer of major departures and a managerial change. Torino have handed their project to one of the league’s youngest coaches, while Udinese continue to operate successfully despite regularly selling important players.
Genoa are attempting to build on Daniele De Rossi’s first full summer in charge, and Sassuolo have chosen Alberto Aquilani to continue a project that produced an impressive 11th-place finish following promotion.
Any of these five could exceed expectations and threaten the European positions, but they could just as easily spend most of the campaign occupying the vast middle ground of the standings.
Read part 1 of our Italian 26/27 season preview here.
Read Part 1 of our PL 26/27 preview here, with part 2, part 3 and part 4 also out.
Read our preview of the French 26/27 season here.
Read our preview of the Spanish 26/27 season here.
For six clubs, the target for the new season is straightforward: finish 17th or higher.
Parma, Lecce and Cagliari all survived last season and have the advantage of knowing exactly what the league demands. Venezia, Frosinone and Monza arrive from Serie B with momentum, but all three face the familiar challenge of turning promotion-winning squads into teams capable of surviving at a considerably higher level.
The promoted clubs should not automatically be condemned. Parma showed last season that intelligent coaching and a clear identity can provide a route towards comfortable survival, while Lecce and Cagliari have repeatedly found ways of remaining in the division despite operating with relatively modest resources.
There are nevertheless reasons why these six begin among the leading relegation candidates, and the margins could again be extremely small.
Bologna – Another summer of rebuilding
Last season: 8th
Manager: Domenico Tedesco
Bologna have become accustomed to change. Vincenzo Italiano left at the end of last season after guiding the club to eighth place and the EL quarter-finals, following two campaigns in which Bologna also celebrated their first Coppa Italia triumph in 51 years. Domenico Tedesco has taken over on a contract running until 2028, bringing experience from Schalke, RB Leipzig, Belgium and Fenerbahce into his first job in the Italian top division.
The coaching change has been accompanied by considerable movement in the squad. Santiago Castro has joined Roma in a €35m deal, while Jhon Lucumí completed his move to Juventus on 17 August. Thijs Dallinga has also left temporarily for Köln, and Benjamin Dominguez has joined Sassuolo on loan with an option to buy.
Losing Castro and Lucumí in particular removes two players who were important at opposite ends of the pitch.
Bologna have responded by reshaping their attack. Artem Dovbyk has arrived from Roma with a permanent option, while Roberto Piccoli has joined from Fiorentina after a difficult season in Florence. The club have also added Argentine midfielder Mikel Amondarain from Estudiantes for a fee in the region of €10m.
Dovbyk is perhaps the most interesting addition. His time with Roma never completely lived up to expectations, but he has already demonstrated his ability to score at a high level in Spain and Italy. Tedesco clearly wanted him, and the Ukrainian has spoken positively about the manager’s direct role in convincing him to choose Bologna.
Piccoli provides another physical option through the middle and arrives with something to prove after struggling at Fiorentina. The change of environment may suit him, particularly if Tedesco builds an aggressive side capable of creating opportunities quickly rather than asking the striker to become heavily involved in intricate build-up play.
The bigger concern is defence. Lucumí’s departure comes extremely close to the start of the season, leaving Bologna little time to replace one of the league’s more reliable centre-backs. The transfer window remains open until 1 September, so further business would hardly be surprising.
Tedesco also inherits expectations that have changed dramatically over recent years.
Bologna are no longer viewed simply as a comfortable mid-table club. CL qualification, a Coppa Italia trophy and successive European campaigns have altered the standard, even if sustaining that level indefinitely is difficult.
ArcticBet verdict: Bologna remain capable of finishing in the upper half, but this feels more like a transitional season than another European breakthrough. The attacking rebuild is interesting, although replacing Lucumí is now a priority. Eighth to 10th looks a realistic range.
Torino – A younger coach for a club searching for progress
Last season: 13th
Manager: Ignazio Abate
Torino have spent several seasons occupying an uncomfortable position in Italian football. They are generally too strong to become seriously involved in relegation trouble, but have struggled to find the extra quality required to move decisively towards Europe.
A 13th-place finish last season reinforced that impression. The club have responded by taking a more adventurous approach with their manager. Ignazio Abate arrives at only 39 after impressive work with AC Milan’s Primavera, Ternana and Juve Stabia, where he built a young and aggressive side that reached the Serie B playoffs.
Torino’s recruitment reflects the attempt to give him a more dynamic squad. Pietro Comuzzo has arrived from Fiorentina in a deal worth around €20m, while Swiss defender Eray Cömert adds further experience at centre-back. Midfielder Kian Fitz-Jim has joined from Ajax and was already involved during pre-season.
The goalkeeper position has also been addressed. Torino have reached an agreement with Leeds United for Lucas Perri in a deal that could reach €15m, giving Abate another experienced option as he builds his first Italian top division side.
There may yet be further attacking business. Torino have explored several possibilities during August, including players from Celtic, Red Bull Salzburg and Crystal Palace, while Evan Ferguson has also been considered as the club searches for additional firepower.
That makes sense because Torino’s challenge is not simply becoming harder to beat. They need to become more dangerous. Abate’s Juve Stabia side was built around energy, pressing and giving younger players responsibility, and Torino appear prepared to provide him with a squad suited to that philosophy.
The early results have been encouraging without providing any reason for excessive excitement.
Torino beat Burnley during pre-season, followed that with a 4-1 victory over Vado and opened their competitive campaign by defeating Carrarese 1-0 in the Coppa Italia on 15 August. Those are useful foundations for a new coach.
The difficulty comes when measuring Torino against the clubs above them. Roma, Atalanta, Como, Lazio and Fiorentina all possess European ambitions and greater attacking quality, while Bologna have spent recent seasons demonstrating how a traditionally mid-table side can break through that ceiling. Torino need to prove they can do something similar.
ArcticBet verdict: Abate makes Torino more interesting than their 13th-place finish suggests, and the summer recruitment has added youth and technical quality. A comfortable mid-table season should be achievable, but we need to see considerably more attacking threat before predicting a serious European challenge.
Udinese – Continuity in a league full of managerial change
Last season: 10th
Manager: Kosta Runjaić
Udinese quietly produced an excellent season in 2025/26. Tenth place and 50 points represented a strong return for a club that continues to operate without the financial resources available to much of the competition above them.
Unlike many Italian top clubs this summer, Udinese have retained their manager. Kosta Runjaić continues after guiding the team through last season, giving Udinese valuable tactical continuity at a time when nine clubs across the division have changed coaches.
The playing squad has been less stable. Thomas Kristensen completed a move to Atalanta on 13 August in a deal worth up to €25m. Earlier in the summer, Iker Bravo, Jordan Zemura and Martín Payero all moved to Watford, creating another familiar Udinese challenge: replacing important players after successful seasons.
The club have already begun that process. Mërgim Vojvoda has arrived from Como for around €1.6m and brings extensive top division experience, while Udinese have also resolved one of the more awkward situations of their summer by agreeing a new contract with Nicolò Zaniolo until 2029.
Keeping Zaniolo could be significant. His career has contained more interruptions than his talent ever suggested it should, but Udinese have an opportunity to make him a central attacking figure rather than another player competing for minutes at a larger club.
Runjaić also has a team that showed some distinctive strengths last season. Udinese won a league-high percentage of ground duels in their defensive half, while only Inter and Sassuolo scored more goals from corners.
Those characteristics fit a side capable of making games uncomfortable for technically stronger opponents.
Their pre-season has provided further encouragement. Udinese hosted Barcelona and Nottingham Forest in an August tournament and produced impressive results, while their first competitive fixture ended in a 1-0 Coppa Italia victory over Padova on 15 August.
Kristensen’s departure is still important. Udinese’s recruitment model is built around accepting profitable sales, but eventually those losses accumulate. The club need to ensure that the defensive structure remains strong enough to compensate for a squad that may not score heavily. There is nevertheless little reason to predict a dramatic decline.
ArcticBet verdict: Udinese look like one of the league’s safest mid-table selections. Runjaić provides continuity, Zaniolo offers attacking upside and the club have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to replace departing players. Matching last season’s 10th place would represent another successful campaign.
Genoa – De Rossi gets the chance to build his own team
Last season: 16th
Manager: Daniele De Rossi
Genoa’s final position makes them the obvious candidate in this group to become involved in the relegation battle. The circumstances provide a little more optimism.
Daniele De Rossi took over during last season after Patrick Vieira was dismissed following a winless start. Genoa were bottom when the managerial change was made, but De Rossi eventually steered them to safety and has been retained for 2026/27.
This is therefore his first opportunity to shape the squad through an entire summer. Genoa have already made several interesting additions. Swiss international Djibril Sow has arrived from Sevilla following the summer’s international football action, while Albania international Mario Mitaj has joined from Al-Ittihad in a deal worth up to €6.5m. Young attacker Ismaël Traorè has also arrived from Marseille on loan with an option to buy.
There has been a significant departure in attack, with Jeff Ekhator joining Juventus for more than €16m. That helps explain why Genoa are still searching for another forward.
Evan Ferguson has emerged as the latest target, with talks continuing over a possible loan from Brighton. De Rossi knows the striker from his time in Rome, although Ferguson’s injury situation means any potential deal comes with obvious risk.
Stephan El Shaarawy has also been discussed as Genoa consider ways of increasing the quality around the striker. The need for additional attacking options is understandable after a season in which Genoa finished 16th with 41 points.
There have already been extremes during their summer preparation. A training exercise against Bournemouth generated headlines after Genoa were effectively beaten 10-1, although the Italian club described the occasion as a combined training session rather than a conventional friendly. A far more useful indication arrived on 16 August when De Rossi’s side beat Ascoli 4-1 in the Coppa Italia.
The cup result provides a better platform heading into the league season. De Rossi has always wanted his teams to play with courage in possession rather than simply defend their way through matches, and Sow should help provide the midfield control required to do that.
Whether Genoa can climb significantly depends on the attack. Another striker capable of producing regularly would make the gap between the Grifone and the relegation candidates look considerably healthier.
ArcticBet verdict: Genoa should be stronger than the team that finished 16th, particularly because De Rossi now has a full pre-season behind him. Sow is a good addition and the squad still has time to improve further. They may spend periods looking over their shoulders, but we currently expect them to stay clear of serious trouble.
Sassuolo – Aquilani takes over an established side
Last season: 11th
Manager: Alberto Aquilani
Sassuolo’s return to the top division went better than many expected. Fabio Grosso followed promotion by guiding the Neroverdi to 11th place, comfortably avoiding the relegation battle and re-establishing the club in the top flight. His reward was a move to Fiorentina, leaving Sassuolo to begin another cycle.
Alberto Aquilani is the replacement. The 41-year-old arrives after taking Catanzaro to the Serie B playoff final and fits Sassuolo’s long-standing preference for coaches willing to develop younger players. His previous experience with Fiorentina’s academy and flexible approach to formations also suit a club that regularly reshapes its squad through the transfer market.
That process is already well underway. Tarik Muharemovic has left for Leeds United after an excellent 2025/26 season that also earned him a place in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s squad this summer. Sassuolo have responded with a mixture of established players and promising talent.
Goalkeeper Arijanet Muric has arrived from Ipswich, Sebastian Walukiewicz has joined from Torino and Kieron Bowie provides another attacking option. Vasilije Adzic has arrived on loan from Juventus with an option to buy, while Benjamin Dominguez has joined from Bologna under a similar arrangement.
Rafel Obrador is another recent addition, joining from Benfica on loan. The Adzic deal is particularly characteristic of Sassuolo. Juventus retain mechanisms that could eventually bring the Montenegrin back to Turin, but Sassuolo receive a talented 20-year-old who needs regular senior football. The club have built much of their modern reputation on providing exactly that environment.
Dominguez offers similar upside. He struggled to become indispensable at Bologna, but Sassuolo have secured an option to make the move permanent for €10m if Aquilani can unlock his potential.
The final days before the league kicks off have produced contrasting results. Sassuolo lost 2-0 to Nürnberg in their final friendly on 15 August, but responded today by beating Cesena 3-0 in the Coppa Italia. That competitive victory is a useful start for Aquilani.
The bigger objective is ensuring that the coaching transition does not interrupt the progress made under Grosso. Sassuolo finished 11th rather than merely surviving last season, so there is no obvious need to approach 2026/27 with fear.
At the same time, losing Muharemovic removes one of their strongest defenders and several summer additions remain young enough to require patience.
ArcticBet verdict: Sassuolo should again have enough to remain comfortably in the top division. Aquilani is an interesting appointment and the club’s recruitment fits its established model, although matching 11th immediately should not be taken for granted after Grosso’s departure.
Parma – Cuesta has already proved he belongs
Last season: 12th
Manager: Carlos Cuesta
Parma are comfortably the strongest team in this group based on last season’s evidence. Carlos Cuesta’s appointment in the summer of 2025 represented an enormous gamble. The former Arsenal assistant had never previously worked as a senior head coach, yet his first season ended with Parma in 12th place and safely removed from the relegation battle. The club confirmed in June that Cuesta would remain for another campaign, giving him the opportunity to develop rather than rebuild his team.
That continuity is important, but Parma are about to lose one of the players who made last season’s success possible.
Zion Suzuki has joined Aston Villa after the clubs agreed a package worth around £30m including potential add-ons. The Japan international had already attracted interest from several major European clubs before enhancing his reputation at this summer’s tournament, and replacing him this close to the beginning of the season becomes an obvious priority.
It is a substantial loss because Suzuki provided more than spectacular saves. His confidence with the ball suited Cuesta’s desire to build from the back, and finding a goalkeeper capable of reproducing both aspects of his game will not necessarily be straightforward.
Parma at least approach the problem from a position of relative strength. Last season demonstrated that Cuesta can organise this squad effectively, and the club are not attempting to construct an entirely new tactical identity during August.
The challenge is avoiding the assumption that last season’s 12th place guarantees another comfortable campaign. The league’s promoted clubs have strengthened, while several teams that struggled in 2025/26 have also made changes.
Parma should therefore still treat survival as the first objective, even if their ambitions can reasonably extend beyond it.
ArcticBet verdict: Parma look too strong to go down based on what Cuesta achieved last season. Suzuki’s departure is a significant late complication, but there is greater stability here than at most of the clubs in this section. Another mid-table finish is more likely than relegation.
Lecce – Survival specialists need to do it again
Last season: Survived
Manager: Eusebio Di Francesco
Lecce have become accustomed to beginning the season among the relegation favourites. They have also become accustomed to proving those predictions wrong.
Eusebio Di Francesco remains in charge after keeping Lecce in the division last season, providing valuable continuity for a club whose resources make every year in the division an achievement. He is one of only 11 coaches in the division continuing from last season rather than beginning a new job.
Lecce’s formula is unlikely to change dramatically. They need organisation, defensive discipline and enough attacking production to turn tight matches into points.
The summer has not been entirely smooth, particularly around Lameck Banda. The Zambia international failed to report for pre-season training as scheduled, prompting Lecce to release a statement warning that disciplinary action could follow. Banda has made more than 100 top division appearances for the club and offers pace that Lecce cannot easily replace, making uncertainty around his future particularly unhelpful.
That situation illustrates the difficulty clubs such as Lecce face. Losing one or two important players can alter the balance of the squad far more dramatically than it would at a club with greater depth.
Di Francesco nevertheless knows what he has. Lecce are unlikely to suddenly become one of the league’s most expansive attacking teams, and they do not need to. Their season will be decided by how efficiently they perform against Parma, Cagliari, the promoted trio and whichever established clubs become unexpectedly involved near the bottom.
Their competitive preparation also included a loss in Coppa against Palermo, meaning they can focus entirely on the league going forward.
The remaining weeks of the transfer window could still be important, especially if Banda leaves, but Lecce have survived enough difficult campaigns to deserve some respect.
ArcticBet verdict: Lecce will probably spend much of the season close to the bottom, but that does not mean they will finish there. Di Francesco has continuity and the club understands how to operate in survival mode. We narrowly favour them to stay up again.
Cagliari – Continuity under Pisacane
Last season: Survived
Manager: Fabio Pisacane
Cagliari have chosen continuity rather than another reset. Fabio Pisacane was rewarded with a new contract until 2028, with an option for another season, after keeping the Sardinian club in the top division. The former Cagliari defender understands the environment as well as anyone and has now been given the opportunity to build on his first senior campaign.
The summer recruitment has added interesting midfield options. Jacopo Fazzini has arrived from Fiorentina on loan with an option to buy for a total package of around €8m, while Cagliari also moved for Harry Winks following Leicester City’s relegation in England. Fazzini in particular fits the club’s preference for players who still have room to develop but already understand Italian football.
There is a good argument that Cagliari should therefore be stronger than they were last season. Pisacane has a year of experience behind him, the squad has been reinforced and there is no need for the players to learn an entirely new tactical system during pre-season.
Football has taken a distant second place latey, however, following the news concerning Yael Trepy. The 20-year-old forward was admitted to intensive care in Sassari, with Cagliari asking for privacy for the player and his family while remaining in contact with medical staff. Fortunately, the striker seems to be ok now after what was apparently a swimming pool accident.
Trepy had started Cagliari’s 1-0 Coppa Italia victory over Arezzo, playing 54 minutes in what would ordinarily have been viewed simply as another useful competitive step towards the new season.
From a purely footballing perspective, the victory provides Pisacane with a positive result heading into the league campaign, but Cagliari’s immediate thoughts will understandably be elsewhere.
When the season begins, their familiarity should work in their favour. Cagliari know how to grind out results at this level, and home form in Sardinia has traditionally given them an important foundation in survival battles.
ArcticBet verdict: Cagliari should have enough to survive. Pisacane provides continuity and Fazzini is an intelligent addition to the midfield. They are unlikely to spend the entire season clear of danger, but we rate their chances more highly than those of most of the promoted clubs.
Venezia – The Serie B champions are spending to survive
Last season: 1st in Serie B
Manager: Giovanni Stroppa
Venezia did not spend long mourning their 2025 relegation. One year later, they are back as Serie B champions. Giovanni Stroppa’s team recovered from a relatively slow start to become the strongest side in the division, eventually securing promotion with a game to spare. Their run included eight consecutive victories, while Andrea Adorante scored 17 league goals and John Yeboah contributed another 11.
Stroppa deserves a significant amount of credit. This was the fourth promotion to the top division of his coaching career, following previous successes with Crotone, Monza and Cremonese, so Venezia are being led by someone who understands exactly what is required to build a promotion-winning side.
The problem comes after promotion. Venezia have been here repeatedly in recent years without establishing themselves. This is their third promotion from Serie B in five seasons, and they have not managed consecutive top division campaigns since 1998/99 and 1999/2000.
This summer’s recruitment suggests they are determined to break that cycle. Akor Adams has arrived from Sevilla for €17m plus bonuses, comfortably making the Nigeria international the most expensive signing in Venezia’s history. That is an enormous investment by the club’s standards and gives Stroppa a striker with experience in La Liga and European football.
Redouane Halhal is another significant addition. The Morocco international centre-back joined from KV Mechelen for €5m plus bonuses after featuring at this summer’s international tournament, adding athleticism and international experience to the defence.
Those are not the moves of a club simply happy to be back. Venezia are attempting to address the two areas that so often determine the fate of promoted sides: scoring enough goals and defending against opponents of dramatically higher quality.
There is also continuity in the squad that won Serie B. Adorante and Yeboah proved they can produce at the level below, and Stroppa now has more attacking options around them.
The uncertainty is whether the quality gap can be bridged quickly enough. Serie B dominance does not always translate to success in the top division, and Venezia’s recent history provides several warnings.
ArcticBet verdict: Venezia are the promoted team we like most. Winning Serie B provides a strong foundation, Stroppa has enormous experience of promotion campaigns and the club have backed him with serious investment. Survival is far from guaranteed, but they have given themselves a realistic chance.
Frosinone – Searching for a first top division survival
Last season: 2nd in Serie B
Manager: Massimiliano Alvini
Frosinone’s relationship with the top division has followed a frustrating pattern. They get promoted. Then they go straight back down. The club have previously played three seasons in the divsion and been relegated on all three occasions, meaning the objective for 2026/27 is not simply to enjoy another promotion but finally establish themselves in the division.
Massimiliano Alvini earned the opportunity after guiding Frosinone to second place in Serie B. Their promotion was thoroughly deserved. Frosinone began strongly, responded well to difficult periods and put together a 15-match unbeaten run before eventually sealing automatic promotion with a 5-0 victory over Mantova. Fares Ghedjemis was one of the standout performers and finished third in the Serie B goalscoring standings.
The club’s summer strategy has sensibly included retaining some of the young players responsible for promotion.
Kevin Akpoguma has arrived to strengthen the defence, while Alessio Zerbin has returned to Frosinone after previously enjoying the best season of his career there. Sebastiano Desplanches provides another option in goal and remains one of Italy’s more highly regarded young goalkeepers.
Zerbin is particularly interesting because his career has stalled since leaving Frosinone. He scored nine times during his previous spell in Ciociaria but managed only one goal across the following four years, making this a move with considerable upside if Alvini can rediscover the player who once thrived there.
The biggest concern is history, although it would be lazy to assume that history must repeat itself. This Frosinone team earned automatic promotion rather than scraping through the playoffs, and the club appear to understand that greater league experience is required around their young core.
Alvini himself also has unfinished business at this level. His previous opportunity in this division came with Cremonese in 2022/23 and ended after 18 matches without a victory. Both manager and club therefore have something to prove.
ArcticBet verdict: Frosinone have a better chance than their previous league record might suggest. Keeping important members of the promotion team while adding experience is sensible, but their squad still looks vulnerable compared with established top-flight opponents. They are right on the survival line.
Monza – Jurić given another chance in the top division
Last season: 3rd in Serie B, promoted through playoffs
Manager: Ivan Jurić
Monza took the difficult route back. After finishing third in Serie B, Paolo Bianco’s team survived the playoffs and defeated Catanzaro in the final to secure an immediate return to the division. Their promotion was built on a strong squad containing experienced players such as Matteo Pessina, Pedro Obiang and Andrea Petagna, with Patrick Cutrone adding further quality after arriving during the winter window.
Bianco will not be the man attempting to keep them up. He left following promotion and Monza appointed Ivan Jurić, giving the Croatian another opportunity to rebuild his reputation after three difficult managerial spells. His jobs with Roma, Southampton and Atalanta all ended prematurely, a sharp contrast with the impressive work at Verona and Torino that originally established him as one of the league’s most respected coaches.
Monza are effectively betting that the earlier version of Jurić can be recovered. There is logic to the appointment. His Torino and Verona sides were organised, aggressive and extremely difficult to play against, exactly the characteristics a newly promoted club needs. Across those jobs he repeatedly produced ninth and 10th-place finishes without relying on elite squads.
The squad has also been strengthened. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro has arrived from Inter, while Monza agreed a deal with Benfica for young striker Gustavo Varela worth an initial €2m plus potential bonuses.
There is already significant top division experience throughout the team, which separates Monza from the typical playoff winner. Pessina, Petagna and Cutrone understand the division, while Jurić has spent much of his coaching career working at this level.
The concern is whether experience is enough. Monza finished behind both Venezia and Frosinone over the Serie B season and required the playoffs to secure promotion. Their previous top division campaign ended with them bottom of the table, so the club need more than familiarity to avoid another immediate relegation.
Jurić therefore has an interesting challenge. His recent managerial record creates legitimate doubts, but the type of football that made him successful earlier in his career could be extremely effective in a survival battle.
ArcticBet verdict: Monza are difficult to assess. Their squad contains more top division experience than most promoted teams and Jurić has previously excelled with clubs of this size, but both manager and club are attempting to recover from recent failures. We see them fighting for survival until the final weeks.
Who can escape the league’s middle ground?
Bologna have the strongest recent record of the five. They finished eighth last season and have spent several years competing for Europe, but losing Italiano, Castro and Lucumí makes another step forward more difficult. Tedesco has inherited a club with ambition, although his first season may involve more reconstruction than progression.
Udinese provide the opposite case. There is little dramatic about predicting another solid season under Runjaić, which is precisely why they are so difficult to move far away from the middle of the table.
Torino have greater uncertainty but also more potential for change. Abate represents a genuine attempt to move away from the club’s recent cycle of respectable but unremarkable league finishes.
Sassuolo face a similar coaching transition under Aquilani, although last season’s 11th place gives them a strong starting point. Genoa begin closest to the relegation conversation after finishing 16th, but De Rossi now has an opportunity to shape the side rather than inherit one in crisis.
Our ranking of the five is:
10. Bologna
11. Udinese
12. Torino
13. Sassuolo
14. Genoa
None would need an extraordinary season to upset that order. Bologna could again threaten the European places if Tedesco settles immediately and the club successfully replaces Lucumí. Torino could make one of the larger jumps under Abate, while Udinese’s consistency makes them an obvious candidate to outperform more fashionable teams.
At the other end, Genoa’s position could look much more secure if another striker arrives before the transfer deadline.
ArcticBet prediction
Best chance of breaking towards Europe: Bologna
Safest mid-table choice: Udinese
Potential improver: Torino
Likely comfortable: Sassuolo
Closest to the relegation battle: Genoa
This may be the division’s least glamorous group, but it is also one of the hardest to separate. There is no obvious weak team among the five and no obvious European qualifier either. Bologna have the highest ceiling, while Udinese appear to have the fewest reasons for expecting a dramatic change from last season.
Torino are the intriguing one. Abate’s appointment and the club’s recruitment suggest a desire to become more ambitious rather than simply reproduce another lower mid-table finish.
Sassuolo should remain stable if Aquilani adapts quickly, while Genoa’s first full season under De Rossi has enough promise to keep them above the clubs we will examine in the relegation section.
For most of these teams, somewhere between eighth and 14th would represent neither a major surprise nor a major failure. The challenge is finding the extra quality that turns another respectable league campaign into something more memorable.
Who will survive the relegation battle?
Parma begin some distance ahead of the other five in our assessment. A 12th-place finish under Cuesta demonstrated that they can do considerably more than survive, although losing Suzuki so close to the start of the season removes one of their most important players. If Parma replace him adequately, another relatively comfortable campaign should follow.
Cagliari and Lecce possess something the promoted teams cannot buy during the summer: recent experience of successfully navigating a survival battle. Neither should feel safe, but both know how to accumulate enough points when performances are imperfect.
That leaves the promoted trio. Venezia have the strongest case for survival. They won Serie B, retained Stroppa and have made a club-record investment in Adams while strengthening the defence with Halhal.
Frosinone were not far behind them and have wisely maintained much of the young core responsible for promotion. Their problem is that the club have never survived a top division season before.
Monza bring more top-flight experience but also more uncertainty. Jurić’s appointment could prove inspired if he recreates his Verona and Torino work, although his last three jobs provide obvious reasons for caution.
Our ranking of the six is:
15. Parma
16. Cagliari
17. Venezia
18. Lecce
19. Frosinone
20. Monza
The most important call is Venezia. We believe the Serie B champions have recruited well enough to survive, while Lecce’s experience gives them the narrowest of advantages over Frosinone.
Monza are our weakest of these six, although the difference between 16th and 19th could be only a handful of points.
Our ranking of the final teams is:
Safest of the group: Parma
Promoted club most likely to survive: Venezia
Survival specialists: Cagliari and Lecce
Relegation danger: Frosinone
Our strongest relegation candidate: Monza
The promoted teams have not approached the season passively. Venezia have broken their transfer record for Adams, Frosinone have added experience while retaining much of their promotion side, and Monza have appointed a coach with extensive top division experience.
That should make the battle more competitive than simply predicting all three newcomers to go straight back down.
Venezia are our choice to break the cycle. Stroppa’s side were the best team in Serie B and have subsequently made the most convincing statement in the transfer market.
Frosinone could easily prove us wrong, particularly if Ghedjemis carries his goalscoring form into the top division, while Jurić’s previous work with Verona and Torino provides Monza with legitimate hope.
For now, though, we have Frosinone and Monza below the line, with Lecce surviving another extremely close battle.
Don’t forget that we also have Early Payout on this league, which you can read more about here.
Please note that the odds might have changed since the writing and/or publication of this article.
Last Updated: 21.08.2026
