By sportswriter Wei Hua

BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The 2024-25 Serie A season may go down as one of the most enthralling in recent memory, with six different leaders in the opening six rounds and a Scudetto race between Napoli and Inter Milan that went down to the wire. The final matchday saw Juventus claim the last UEFA Champions League spot, while Hellas Verona and Lecce secured top-flight survival.

After nine dramatic months, Napoli roared back to claim an unlikely title. Newly promoted Como thrilled under Cesc Fabregas, while traditional giants Juventus and AC Milan endured turbulent campaigns.

1. Napoli (Champions League)

Napoli, who finished 10th last season, stunned many by winning their fourth Serie A title with a one-point edge over Inter. New signing Scott McTominay earned MVP honors, delivering 12 goals and four assists in the league.

Antonio Conte made history by becoming the first manager to win Serie A with three different clubs after past titles with Juventus and Inter. However, speculation surrounds his future after a fiery press conference criticizing the club's transfer policy, as he has been linked with a return to Juve.

2. Inter Milan (Champions League)

Inter's campaign faltered due to late-season stumbles. Dropping points from leading positions cost it a chance to seal the title early. The squad struggled with fatigue from a congested schedule and Champions League distractions. With a final against PSG looming on May 31, Simone Inzaghi's focus must now shift quickly.

3. Atalanta (Champions League)

Once a midseason title favorite, Atalanta ran out of steam but recovered to secure third. The Bergamo side may face a turning point in the summer as coach Gian Piero Gasperini hinted at a possible exit after nine years, and star winger Ademola Lookman is reportedly attracting interest from top clubs like Liverpool.

4. Juventus (Champions League)

Juventus had high hopes under Thiago Motta, but the project collapsed in under 300 days. Igor Tudor replaced him but failed to impress. Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli came under fire for underwhelming signings, and top scorer Dusan Vlahovic is expected to depart. An overhaul looms.

5. Roma (Europa League)

Club legend Daniele De Rossi was sacked at the initial stage, while Ivan Juric's tenure also didn't last long. Roma's chaotic season turned around under returning veteran coach Claudio Ranieri, who lifted the club from near-relegation to fifth on a 19-match unbeaten run. Injuries to Paulo Dybala hurt their push for more. Ranieri, now 73, has reiterated plans to move into a director role, and remained tight-lipped on his successor.

6. Fiorentina (Conference League Playoff)

Raffaele Palladino took over a shaky start, before raising hopes of a top-four finish and third successive Conference League final, but it was tarnished by a string of costly setbacks in early May. A win over Udinese and Lazio's loss secured a Conference League playoff spot. Moise Kean who finished last season at Juve without a goal revived his form with 19 goals, boosting Italy's national team ahead of World Cup qualifiers.

7. Lazio

Manager Marco Baroni led Lazio to an early Europa League charge but inconsistency in Serie A and a shocking finale loss to Lecce ended its European hopes. Veteran Pedro scored 14 goals in all competitions, and Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares showed what he was capable of at left-back and eventually earned a debut at Portugal national side.

8. AC Milan

Despite winning the Supercoppa Italiana and staying unbeaten in five derbies against Inter, Milan's season was still disappointing. Paulo Fonseca and Sergio Conceicao failed to revitalize the squad, and its youth rank Milan Futuro was relegated from Serie C. Protests escalated, with ultras calling for sweeping leadership changes. Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders offered rare bright spots, but the financial loss caused by the absence of European competition may force Milan to sacrifice one or two star names to balance the books.

9. Bologna (Europa League)

New coach Vincenzo Italiano led Bologna to build on last season's achievements by winning a surprise Coppa Italia title and Europa League qualification. It was the club's first major trophy in 51 years and a personal redemption for Italiano after three straight final defeats.

10. Como

Returning to Serie A after 21 years, Como thrived under Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard who was noted for his intelligence in dictating the tempo as a player, also imposes his identity on this team mixed with veterans Sergi Roberto, Pepe Reina and youngsters Nico Paz and Assane Diao. The club's unique football-tourism model also drew celebrity attention. But Como should be alert as Fabregas has reportedly been linked to Bayer Leverkusen, and Paz could be recalled by Real Madrid.

11. Torino

A midtable finish offered little excitement, but Cesare Casadei and Samuele Ricci stood out. Casadei, who was struggling for playing time at Chelsea returned to his motherland in the winter, he finally got back on the right track and earned a national team call-up, while Ricci's technique, pace and composure also drew comparisons to Andrea Pirlo and interest from Manchester City.

12. Udinese

A strong start faded, and off-field drama peaked when Lorenzo Lucca insisted on taking a penalty over designated taker Florian Thauvin. The incident led to tension but was smoothed over with Lucca paying a team dinner.

13. Genoa

While Mateo Retegui's transfer didn't make a major impact, Genoa survived for a second straight season. Fans celebrated not just survival but the relegation of city rival Sampdoria, who dropped to Serie C for the first time in history.

14. Hellas Verona

A shock 3-0 win over Napoli in the opener proved a false dawn as Verona struggled all season. With the league's second-worst defense, survival came only on the final day.

15. Cagliari

Having confirmed survival before their final match, Cagliari still gave Napoli a scare. Loaned goalkeeper Elia Caprile, a Napoli player, sat out the game but remains eligible for a medal.

16. Parma

Parma slumped late but secured safety with a 3-2 win over Atalanta. Rookie coach Cristian Chivu showed promise in his first senior role but still has much to prove.

17. Lecce

Lecce's 1-0 win over Lazio on the final day secured survival while denying their opponent European football. It also made huge profits off the pitch as a winter transfer windfall saw Patrick Dorgu sold to Manchester United for a club-record fee.

18. Empoli (Relegated)

Empoli couldn't replicate last season's narrow escape. Despite a late resurgence and a Coppa Italia semifinal run that included eliminating Juventus, the club dropped to Serie B.

19. Venezia (Relegated)

The yo-yo club's return to Serie A lasted just one season. Despite a late-season surge, two losses in the final rounds ended their hopes. The club remains better known for its iconic jerseys than its football.

20. Monza (Relegated)

Despite a roster packed with former internationals, Monza became the first team relegated this season and flirted with an all-time low points record. Alessandro Nesta took over the team at the beginning of season, and was replaced by Salvatore Bocchetti. The 2006 World Cup winner made his return in February, but couldn't save the club from the drop after three years in the top flight. ■