How are Serie A teams performing in the 2024 pre-season friendlies?

Every top-tier squad faces the same pressure before a long season: translating training camp conditioning into match-day execution. As Italian football's elite gear up for the upcoming campaign, their performance in recent European friendly fixtures offers a direct look at their readiness. Fans analyzing tactical shifts at Jiliace have tracked these summer preparations closely, noting how early base-building phases set the tone for actual match performance. Bologna established their foundation early by conducting a summer pre-season training camp in Rio Pusteria-Valles from July 13 to July 25, 2024. During a similar window, Internazionale isolated their squad in Donaueschingen, Germany, for an intense camp running from July 16 to July 25.

Internazionale wasted no time putting their German camp fitness to the test. On July 27, 2024, they secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Las Palmas at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi in Cesena. The result reflected a squad eager to stabilize their tactical approach early, sidestepping the disjointed form that often characterizes mid-summer tune-ups.

Across the Atlantic, AC Milan embraced a high-profile tour of the United States, scheduling major fixtures against Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. Their stateside campaign kicked off with a physically demanding July 27 matchup at Yankee Stadium in New York, where Milan outlasted Manchester City 3-2. Four days later, on July 31, they faced Real Madrid at Soldier Field in Chicago. Samuel Chukwueze scored the winning goal to hand Milan a 1-0 victory, showcasing a sharp edge in the final third against formidable opposition.

Not all Serie A contenders found their rhythm so smoothly. Atalanta struggled to assert dominance across their summer schedule. They opened with a 2-2 draw against AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar on July 27. The defensive gaps seen in that match widened shortly after, as Atalanta suffered a 4-1 defeat to Parma in a domestic friendly on August 4. Their issues in the backline persisted later that week, resulting in a 3-0 loss to FC St. Pauli on August 9.

Other clubs utilized the friendly window to integrate setups against varied opponents. On July 25, Como claimed a solid 3-1 win over Cagliari. Meanwhile, AS Roma traveled to Goodison Park on August 10 to face Everton, playing out a hard-fought 1-1 draw defined by precise finishes from Lorenzo Pellegrini and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.