Serie A Roundup, Matchday 18
The 18th matchday of the 2025/26 Serie A season showcased thrilling games, surprising results, and remarkable performances from many players. This Serie A recap provides an overview of the fixtures held on that day.
Cagliari 0-1 AC Milan
AC Milan forward Rafael Leão made his comeback after missing three games due to injury by scoring the winning goal in a tight 1-0 victory away at Cagliari. This results keeps the Rossoneri in 2nd place, increasing the pressure on Inter Milan. Milan secured a narrow victory, extending their unbeaten run in the league to 16 matches (11 wins, 5 draws) and ending Cagliari’s three-game unbeaten streak at home.
Como 1-0 Udinese
Como started 2026 with a hard-earned 1-0 victory at home against Udinese, extending the Lariani’s impressive unbeaten home streak to 10 games in all competitions this season (7 wins, 3 draws). This win solidifies Como’s place in the European qualification spots, while Udinese now trail the top six by eight points.
Sassuolo 1-1 Parma
Sassuolo missed the opportunity to climb back into the top eight in Serie A after being held to a 1-1 draw by Parma at the Mapei Stadium. Earning just one point at home means Fabio Grosso’s team have now gone four Serie A matches without a win, placing them 10th in the standings ahead of their upcoming home game against Juventus. On the other hand, Parma’s away draw extends their lead over the relegation zone to six points.
Genoa 1-1 Pisa
Genoa prevented a fourth consecutive league loss for the first time since December 2021 by securing a 1-1 draw against Pisa at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Serie A.
Juventus 1-1 Lecce
Jonathan David missed a penalty for his club for the first time since January 2025, as Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened US Lecce at the Allianz Stadium, ending their four-game winning streak in competitive matches.
Atalanta 1-0 Roma
Gian Piero Gasperini’s comeback to Bergamo was disappointing as his Roma side fell 1-0 to Atalanta, suffering their third consecutive away loss in Serie A. Consequently, Atalanta comfortably prevented back-to-back home defeats for the first time since March. This defeat was Roma’s fourth in six matches, further diminishing their chances of winning the title, with all these losses occurring by a single goal, increasing their frustration.
Lazio 0-2 Napoli
Napoli delivered a commanding performance on the road in a match that saw three red cards, securing a 2-0 win over a lackluster SS Lazio. This victory marked their first head-to-head win since a 2-1 triumph in September 2022 and propelled them into third place in the Serie A standings. Importantly for Napoli, they maintained control until the final whistle, closing the gap to just 2 points behind league leaders Inter Milan, while Lazio remains in ninth place.
Fiorentina 1-0 Cremenese
A late goal from Moise Kean secured a crucial 1-0 win for ACF Fiorentina against US Cremonese in Serie A at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, lifting La Viola off the bottom of the league standings. This marked Fiorentina’s second consecutive home victory in Serie A, bringing them to just three points behind the safety zone. On the other hand, Cremonese will look to bounce back with a home match against Cagliari in their upcoming game.
Verona 0-3 Torino
Torino secured back-to-back away league victories for the first time since September 2024 by defeating Hellas Verona 3-0 at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi in Serie A. They also kept a clean sheet, which was particularly notable considering they had conceded the most league goals before this round (28). As a result, Verona have now gone 13 head-to-head matches without a win against Torino (8 draws, 5 losses) and continue to struggle in the relegation zone.
Inter 3-1 Bologna
Inter Milan returned to the top of Serie A following a commanding 3-1 win against Bologna, marking their sixth victory in seven league matches at the San Siro. Inter comfortably secured all three points, while Bologna have now gone five league games without a win.
