Serie A Standings

Serie A Standings: How the Table Works

The Serie A standings rank Italy’s 20 top-flight clubs by the points they earn across a 38-match season, and the live table directly below this paragraph updates automatically as results come in. This page explains what those numbers mean — how the table is built, which positions win the title and European places, which clubs go down, how teams level on points are separated, and the key dates of the current 2026/27 season — so you can read the table below with confidence.

How the Serie A table works

Serie A is the top division of Italian football and runs as a single league of 20 clubs. Each club plays every other club twice — once at home and once away — for 38 matches each and 380 matches in total across the season. Teams earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 for a defeat, and the standings list every club from most points to fewest. The club on top after all 38 rounds is the champion and wins the Scudetto, the title shield sewn onto the following season’s shirts. If league tables are new to you, our guide to how to read a standings table walks through every row and column, and the standings table abbreviations glossary explains labels such as P, W, D, L, GD and Pts.

What each position in the Serie A table means

A club’s finishing position decides far more than bragging rights: it sets which European competition — if any — it plays the following season, and whether it stays in Serie A at all. For the 2026/27 season the places break down like this:

• 1st: Serie A champions and the Scudetto.
• 1st–4th: a place in the UEFA Champions League league phase.
• 5th: a place in the UEFA Europa League league phase.
• 6th: entry to the UEFA Conference League play-off round.
• Coppa Italia winner: a Europa League place — unless the winners have already qualified for Europe through the table, in which case the European cut-offs shift down a position.
• 18th–20th: relegated to Serie B, the Italian second tier.

Italy can earn a fifth Champions League place for a single season if it finishes as one of UEFA’s two highest-ranked countries by coefficient; when that happens, the other European places each move down one spot. Because the entries also depend on the Coppa Italia result, the exact cut-off positions can move by one.

How teams level on points are separated

When two or more clubs finish level on points, Serie A does not use overall goal difference first — it starts with the results between the tied clubs. The criteria are applied in this order:

1. Head-to-head points (the results of the matches between the tied clubs).
2. Head-to-head goal difference in those matches.
3. Overall goal difference across all 38 games.
4. Total goals scored across the season.
5. A drawing of lots, if clubs are still level.

Two situations use a play-off instead of these criteria. If clubs are tied on points for 1st place, the title is settled by a single play-off match at a neutral venue. If clubs are tied for 17th — the last safe place above the drop — a two-legged relegation play-off decides who stays up. For the wider logic behind these rules, see our explainer on how points and tiebreakers work.

Key dates for the 2026/27 season

The 2026/27 Serie A season opened on the weekend of 22–23 August 2026 (Inter v Monza kicked off the campaign) and ends with the 38th and final round on the weekend of 29–30 May 2027. A few dates shape the run of play:

• Promoted clubs: Venezia (Serie B champions), Frosinone (runners-up) and Monza (play-off winners) came up for 2026/27.
• Midweek rounds: 28 October 2026 and 6 January 2027.
• International breaks: pauses in September/October and November 2026 and in March 2027, plus a short break over Christmas.

How the Serie A season ends

Serie A is decided by the table, not by an end-of-season championship play-off. After the final round on 30 May 2027, the club on top of the standings is champion — there is no title final or play-off series — and the bottom three are relegated. The only play-offs are the exceptions above: a one-off title match if two clubs tie for first, and a two-legged relegation play-off if two clubs tie for 17th. The three relegated clubs are replaced by the sides promoted from Serie B for the next campaign.

How to follow Serie A from New Zealand

In New Zealand, beIN Sports holds the Serie A rights and streams every match live and on demand through beIN Sports Connect on web, mobile, tablet and smart TVs. For the 2026/27 season a subscription costs NZ$16.99 a month or NZ$169.99 on an annual plan. Because Italy sits about 11–12 hours behind New Zealand, matches land in the small hours and morning here: the four standard Italian kick-off slots (roughly 12:30, 15:00, 18:00 and 20:45 local time) fall at approximately 12:30am, 3:00am, 6:00am and 8:45am NZDT during the warmer months, with exact times confirmed closer to each round. This page is part of standings.nz, our plain-English hub for sports standings and results; check the live table at the top for the latest positions after every matchday.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many teams are in Serie A and how many games do they play?

Serie A has 20 clubs. Each plays every other club twice, home and away, for 38 matches each and 380 matches in total across the season.

How many points is a win worth in Serie A?

A win is worth 3 points, a draw 1 point and a defeat 0. Clubs are ranked from most points to fewest, and the club on top after 38 rounds wins the Scudetto.

How many Serie A teams qualify for the Champions League?

The top four finishers qualify for the Champions League league phase. Italy can gain a fifth place for a single season if it is one of UEFA’s two highest-ranked countries by coefficient.

How are Serie A clubs separated when they finish level on points?

Serie A uses head-to-head points first, then head-to-head goal difference, then overall goal difference, then goals scored, and finally a drawing of lots. A tie for 1st is settled by a one-off play-off, and a tie for 17th by a two-legged relegation play-off.

When does the 2026/27 Serie A season end?

The final matchday is the weekend of 29–30 May 2027. There is no championship play-off: the club top of the table is champion and the bottom three clubs are relegated to Serie B.