Bologna vs Lazio: The H2H Stats That Predict the Winner
Serie A 2024/25: The Story After Matchday 1 — A Beginner’s Guide
Welcome to the Italian football league! If you’re new to Serie A, don’t worry — we’ll walk through the very first week of the season together, step by step. Think of this like a scoreboard after the first round of games. Some teams have played, some haven’t, and the table already tells a fun story.
What Is This Table Anyway?
Imagine a giant spreadsheet that tracks every team in Italy’s top football league. After each weekend of matches, it updates to show:
- Who won, drew, or lost
- How many goals they scored and conceded
- How many points they have (Win = 3, Draw = 1, Loss = 0)
- Their "Goal Difference" (Goals For minus Goals Against) — the tiebreaker if points are equal
Important Point: Goal Difference is like a "style points" tiebreaker. If two teams have the same points, the one that scored more relative to what they let in ranks higher.
The Standings After Matchday 1
Here’s the simplified version of the table. We’ve grouped teams by how they did in their first game (or if they haven’t played yet).
The Perfect Starters (3 Points, Won Their First Match)
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inter Milan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 3 |
| 2 | Lecce | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Napoli | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 4 | AC Milan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 5 | Atalanta | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 6 | Cagliari | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 7 | Juventus | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
Fun Fact: Inter Milan didn’t just win — they crushed it 4–1, giving them the best goal difference (+3) and the early lead.
The Draw Specialists (1 Point Each)
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Como | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | Udinese | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Note: Both games ended 1–1. A draw means each team gets 1 point — not a win, but not a loss either.
The Teams Still Waiting (0 Points, 0 Games Played)
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bologna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Fiorentina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Lazio | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Roma | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Why haven’t they played? Sometimes fixtures are postponed for TV scheduling, European competitions, or other reasons. They’ll catch up later!
The Unlucky Losers (0 Points, Lost First Match)
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Diff | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Sassuolo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 15 | Torino | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 16 | Frosinone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 17 | Parma | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
| 18 | Genoa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
| 19 | Venezia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
| 20 | Monza | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |
Ouch: Monza had the toughest start — they lost 1–4, giving them the worst goal difference (−3) and bottom spot.
How to Read the "Form" Column (Last 6 Games)
You’ll see a little row of letters like W, D, L, or dashes. Here’s what they mean:
- W = Win
- D = Draw
- L = Loss
- – = No game yet (season just started!)
Since it’s Matchday 1, most teams only have one real result — the very last letter. The rest are dashes.
Example: Inter Milan’s form shows
– – – – – W→ They’ve only played one game, and they won it.
Key Takeaways So Far
- Inter Milan leads — not just on points, but on style (+3 goal difference).
- Seven teams won their opener — that’s a lot of winners early on!
- Four big names (Bologna, Fiorentina, Lazio, Roma) haven’t kicked off yet — they’re waiting in the wings.
- Monza is last after a heavy 1–4 loss — but it’s one game. Plenty of time to bounce back.
- Goal Difference matters — Lecce and Napoli both won 2–0, so they’re tied on points and GD. Alphabetical? No — usually head-to-head or goals scored decides later.
Summary
After the first weekend of Serie A 2024/25:
- 7 teams have 3 points (won)
- 2 teams have 1 point (drew)
- 4 teams have 0 points but haven’t played yet
- 7 teams have 0 points (lost)
The table will change a lot over the next 37 matchdays. This is just the first sentence of a 38-chapter story.
Remember: In football, one game means almost nothing in the long run. Champions have started with losses. Relegation candidates have started with wins. The fun is watching the story unfold.
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Why do some teams have played 0 games?
Their matches were postponed — often because they’re in European competitions (Champions League, Europa League) and need extra rest. They’ll play their "Gameweek 1" match later in the season.
What does "Goal Difference" actually do?
If two teams finish the season with the same points, the one with the better Goal Difference ranks higher. It rewards teams that win big and lose small.
Can a team at the bottom now win the league?
Absolutely. In 2021/22, AC Milan started with a draw and a loss — then won the title. One game ≠ destiny.
Why are there 20 teams?
That’s the standard size for top European leagues (like Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga). Each team plays every other team twice (home and away) = 38 games total.
When is the next matchday?
Usually the following weekend. Check the official Serie A schedule — some games are on Friday, Monday, or even midweek!
Enjoy the season! Whether you’re cheering for Inter, Napoli, or the underdog Venezia — every match writes a new line in the story.