Bastoni puts pressure on Napoli with 2025-26 Serie A title prediction | OneFootball

Inter defender and Italy international Alessandro Bastoni has put the pressure on Napoli by claiming that they are favourites to win the 2025-26 Serie A title, but feels that the Nerazzurri are ‘still competitive’ and that they will ‘try to do everything to win’.

The 2025-26 Serie A season gets underway this weekend, beginning with Genoa’s visit from Lecce on Friday evening. Inter will first be in action against Torino on Monday night, while reigning champions Napoli will visit newly-promoted Sassuolo on Saturday evening.

Bastoni tips Napoli to beat Inter to Serie A title again

Giving his pre-match preview to Sky Sport Italia on Thursday, Bastoni claimed that Napoli are the favourites for the 2025-26 Scudetto given their status as reigning champions.

NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Napoli lifts the Serie A TIM Scudetto title trophy after his team’s victory in the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“Whoever wins the Scudetto is always the favourite,” Bastoni said, reported via Tuttosport. “But we still feel competitive and we will do everything we can to try and win.”

Juventus are the last team to have won the Serie A title in back-to-back seasons, in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Juve and Inter are, in fact, the only two teams to have won the Serie A title in consecutive seasons since the turn of the century.

Focusing on Inter, Bastoni added that Inter need to remember how to win matches, even if they are not performing well in-game.

Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale reacts during the Coppa Italia, Round of 16 match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 19, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Taking to the pitch with the intention to win three points,” he said when asked for his side’s goals heading into the new season.

He continued: “Even when you’re playing less well, you have to bring home the result.”