Inter Milan and Juventus were the consensus Serie A title picks heading into 2025-26. Through April, the most consistent team in the league has been neither. Atalanta, written off as a top-six side at most, sit second with four matches to play and a genuine path to the title.
How they got here
Three things converged. The summer signings (a striker from Ligue 1 and a creative midfielder from Bundesliga) integrated faster than expected. The Champions League run kept the squad sharp without burning them out. And a midwinter tactical adjustment to a slightly more defensive setup gave them resilience in tight league games.
The remaining schedule
Atalanta have a tougher run-in than Inter, including the Milan derby fixture and a trip to Juventus. Inter would need to drop multiple points to give them the title. But the gap is two, and Inter have not been at their best for two months.
The likely finish
Inter probably win by a point or two. Atalanta finish second and qualify for the Champions League comfortably. Either way, they have already exceeded every reasonable expectation.