Serie A title race: Inter and Lazio level on 25 points before the Milan derby

Nine games into the 2026/27 season, Serie A has two leaders who cannot be separated on points. Inter and Lazio both have 25 points, both are unbeaten with eight wins and one draw, and both have a goal difference of +15. Inter sit first only because they have scored more goals (25 to 22). The midweek round confirmed the pattern: Lazio ran riot in Reggio Emilia on Tuesday, Inter needed patience in Venice on Wednesday – and the weekend now brings the Milan derby.

Lazio's six-goal statement

Gennaro Gattuso's side won 6-2 at Sassuolo on Tuesday, a result that briefly put them three points clear. Kenneth Taylor scored after two minutes, Gustav Isaksen and Romano Floriani – with his first senior goal for the club – made it 3-1 within 16 minutes, and Mattia Zaccagni headed in just before the break. Tijjani Noslin added two more after half-time. Sassuolo played almost an hour with ten men after Kristian Thorstvedt was sent off for a high challenge on Zaccagni, and Lazio even had two penalties saved by Stefano Turati. According to Flashscore, Sassuolo had not lost at home this season before Tuesday.

Gattuso played down the table afterwards, telling reporters, as quoted by Reuters: "We don't have to look at the standings.". After seven games Lazio had already collected 19 points – the club's best start after seven games, beating the 17 of Sven-Göran Eriksson's 1999-2000 side at the same stage.

Inter grind it out in Venice

Cristian Chivu's Inter answered 24 hours later, but it was not pretty. Bottom club Venezia had a goal by Lion Lauberbach ruled out and a penalty claim turned down, before two own goals in three minutes decided the game: Matías Moreno turned the ball into his own net in the 79th minute, Redouane Halhal deflected a header in for 2-0 in the 82nd (match report). According to beIN SPORTS, 25 points from nine games is Inter's best start since three points for a win were introduced.

The top of the table

Pos	Team	P	W-D-L	GD	Pts
1	Inter	9	8-1-0	+15	25
2	Lazio	9	8-1-0	+15	25
3	Roma	9	6-3-0	+15	21
4	Como	9	6-2-1	+9	20
5	AC Milan	9	5-3-1	+7	18
6	Napoli	9	4-2-3	+6	14
8	Juventus	9	4-2-3	+1	14

Roma, also unbeaten, beat Cagliari 4-2 with two goals in the last five minutes, while Como came from behind to win 3-1 at Torino with three goals in the final ten minutes. AC Milan lost for the first time, 4-2 at home to Bologna, and Juventus fell 2-0 at Genoa – already eleven points off the top.

What comes next

The tenth round starts on Saturday and gives the two leaders very different tasks (times CET):

• Sat 31 Oct, 18:00: Udinese – Roma
• Sat 31 Oct, 20:45: AC Milan – Inter
• Sun 1 Nov, 12:30: Como – Venezia
• Sun 1 Nov, 15:00: Lazio – Cagliari
• Sun 1 Nov, 20:45: Juventus – Napoli

Our take

The numbers say Inter and Lazio are equals, but they have got there in different ways. Lazio score in bursts and have conceded only seven goals; Inter have the stronger attack but needed luck against the bottom side. The fixture list now favours Lazio: Gattuso's side host mid-table Cagliari, while Inter have to win a derby against a Milan team that has just been beaten for the first time and is seven points behind. If Inter drop points at San Siro and Lazio win, the leadership changes hands again – and Roma and Como, both only a few points back, will be watching closely. It is far too early to call this a two-horse race, but for the first time in years Lazio look like a genuine contender rather than a surprise package.

Follow every Serie A game live on EZCO and check the updated Serie A table after each match.