The 2025 season of Italian women’s football opened in January with Roma lifting the Supercup and closed with the Round of 16 of the Coppa Italia. So what can we take away from this year?
ITALIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: THE BEST OF 2025
In 2025, Italian women’s football was defined above all by the Euros – unquestionably the highlight of the season – and by Juventus showing greater competitiveness in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, securing a playoff spot and coming close to reaching the quarter-finals. Italy is steadily raising its level beyond its own borders, yet several major steps are still needed to match its main European rivals.
Team by team
Como Women have grown steadily, narrowly missing out on the Poule Scudetto last season and now competing for a place in Europe. Their emerging talents are thriving, yet meaningful progress will depend on increased investment during the transfer windows.
Fiorentina kept their European hopes alive until the final match of last season, and this year they appear even closer to securing a spot. However, to strengthen their reputation, they still need to take a clear step forward in matches against mid‑ and lower‑table sides.
Genoa secured their place in Serie A thanks to Bologna’s defeat in the derby against Cesena, and since then they have shown they can compete even with the league’s strongest sides. Their style of play still lacks consistency, but they rarely drop out of matches, and the only real exception being a heavy defeat in Milan.
Inter’s position in the table made them look closer to first place than their overall performances indicated. This season has followed a similar pattern: European struggles, a difficult start, and only in the latest match a glimpse of real progress. Juventus, for their part, dominated the league with a sizeable gap to second place, though their form wavered at times. Even so, they ended 2025 showing clear improvement.
Lazio impressed last season with strong performances in top clashes and in the Poule Salvezza. This year they have maintained a similar level of consistency, even if their usual playing style has been less evident — though winning matches without playing well is often a positive sign.
However, they have struggled in big games, as shown by their defeats to Roma in the Women’s Cup and to Juventus in Serie A. Milan, meanwhile, are improving day by day, but their defence still commits costly mistakes, a not‑so‑minor issue they must address to take the next step.
Napoli surprised many after staying up last season largely thanks to Sampdoria’s collapse, but this year they have made significant progress and now look well‑positioned for a strong finish in 2025-26. Parma have adapted better to life in the top flight, yet their attack still lacks cutting edge – an issue they will need to address as quickly as possible.
Roma went from winning the Supercup to nearly losing their Champions League spot and suffering a heavy defeat in the Coppa Italia. But under Rossettini’s leadership they regained confidence and identity, topping the league from Matchday 1 and reaching the UWCL League Phase – a run that ultimately paved the way to the title. Sassuolo, on the other hand, slipped from last season’s solid eighth‑place finish to ninth, marked by inconsistency in the league and a shocking elimination in the Coppa Italia Round of 16.
Finally, there is Ternana. Newly promoted and facing all the usual hurdles of a step up in level – plus a squad still lacking in some areas – they continue to battle for survival. Their Coppa Italia campaign has been a bright spot, with a quarter‑final berth earned by knocking out Como Women. The 2026 promises to be decisive.
ITALIAN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: 2025 STILL REVEALED DEEP‑ROOTED PROBLEMS
Summer 2025 brought both progress and setbacks for Italian women’s football. Alongside the Euros semi‑finals came numerous withdrawals in the lower divisions, and two clubs – Sampdoria and Spezia – opted not to enter the second tier, citing financial difficulties and, in one case, limited backing from the men’s section. It’s a reminder that key structural challenges remain before the movement can achieve sustainable, comprehensive growth.
