Who Are Inter Milan’s Biggest Rivals In the Scudetto Race?

The 2024/25 Serie A campaign is just around the corner, and for fans of Inter Milan, the season is the most important for some time.

The Nerazzurri head into the new season as the reigning champions after romping to the Scudetto by a whopping 19 points and after losing just two games all season.

Now, they have the opportunity to claim back-to-back titles for the first time in 15 years. 

Should they emerge victorious next May, they will find themselves well en route to dynasty-like status.

They ran roughshod over the Italian topflight throughout the late 2000s, firstly under Roberto Mancini and then under Jose Mourinho.

Since then, Juventus have risen and subsequently fallen, and Inter is the dominant force once more. They are the favorites for the Scudetto next term, but who are their closest competitors? 

Inter Milan 

The popular Bovada online sportsbook has priced Inter as the -165 favorites to retain their crown next season, and their status as the odds-on favorite is well-deserved.

The Nerazzurri has maintained an impressive core of players over the summer, with stars like Lautaro Martinez and Nicolo Barella continuing to shine. 

Alessandro Bastoni is arguably the finest central defender on the planet, and the addition of Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich only strengthens Inter’s backline.

Simone Inzaghi has arguably constructed the deepest squad in all of Serie A, allowing for player rotation without a significant drop in performance.

That will be crucial as the team looks to compete both domestically and in the Champions League. 

Last term, Inter Milan were shockingly dumped out of Europe with a humbling defeat to Atletico Madrid in the second round, and they will be aiming to make a deeper turn next term, as well as adding another Scudetto to their trophy cabinet. 

Juventus 

Despite finishing third last season – a mighty 23 points adrift of the eventual champions – Juventus stands as Inter’s most formidable rival.

The Bianconeri are a far cry from the side that claimed nine straight titles between 2012 and 2020, and the days of Cristiano Ronaldo and Andre Pirlo are no more.

Veterans like Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini used to bring a wealth of knowledge to the team, but they both left the club in recent years.

Now, the highlighted Brazilian Bremer needs to step up and become a leader. 

In midfield, the Turin club certainly has plenty of talent. Italian trio Manuel Locatelli, Nicolò Fagioli, and Fabio Miretti might not have the star power of years gone by, but they certainly can control the tempo of a game.

The addition of the dynamic Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa also provides some much-needed bite in the middle of the park. 

Up top, there are still question marks. Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic still receives plenty of criticism despite his above-average goalscoring output.

Meanwhile, former golden boy Federico Chiesa looks a shadow of the player that shone at the European Champions three years ago.

If those two can find their best form, they may well run Inter Milan close this term. But if not, another disappointing season could well be on the cards. 

AC Milan 

Inter’s cross-city rivals AC Milan are a distant third favorite. Stefano Piolo led the club to the title three years ago, but he has since moved on and Portuguese boss Paulo Fonseca is the new man at the helm.

He inherits a squad stacked with talent, with the likes of Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic, and Theo Hernandez all proven match-winners on their day. 

In defense, the Rossoneri are also stacked. Former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori is arguably a top defender in the division, while France’s number-one goalkeeper Mike Maignan is one of the best on the planet.

However, outside of their big stars, there is a notable drop off in inability.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tim Reijnders, and Ismaël Bennacer will start the majority of games in midfield, while new signing Alvaro Morata and Luka Jovic are expected to score the goals required to keep Milan in contention. 

Napoli

Last summer, Napoli were the reigning champions under Luciano Spalletti for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona. But their defense of the crown couldn’t have gone any worse.

They went through three managers last season and none of them left a lasting impression, leading the team to a lowly tenth-place finish.

Now, perennial winner Antonio Conte is the new man at the helm, and there are rising expectations in Naples. 

The maverick Italian boss is yet to lose striker Victor Osimhen. Should he stay he will be looking to add to the 76 goals he has scored in just 133 appearances for the club.

Georgian superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be in the supporting cast. He shone as he led his nation of underdogs to the second round at Euro 2024.

If both men perform to the best of their abilities, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Ciucciarelli contend for the title once more.