The modern Serie A format has been in place since 1929, with 20 clubs competing across a 38-game season. Juventus dominated Italian football for much of the 20th century and into the 21st, winning nine consecutive league titles between 2012 and 2020. Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma and Napoli are among the other major forces in the division.

Italian football is renowned for its tactical sophistication. The catenaccio defensive system, developed in Italy in the 1960s, influenced football tactics globally. More recently, coaches like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri and Luciano Spalletti have continued the tradition of tactical innovation.

Serie A clubs have won the Champions League on multiple occasions, with AC Milan and Inter Milan among the most successful clubs in European history. The bottom three clubs are relegated each season, while the top four qualify for the Champions League.