Inter have ruled over Serie A for the past four years – five if the Scudetto awarded to the Nerazzurri in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal is counted -, but this season, thanks to an unlikely combination of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rafael Benitez and Edinson Cavani amongst others, the race to be crowned Italy’s champions is wide open. At least six teams will feel they have a realistic chance of winning the title.

Inside Futbol look at Serie A’s top contenders and the games which could make or break their season:

AC Milan

The Rossoneri sit atop of Serie A at the time of writing and look in pole position to take the title. For the first two months of the current season Milan didn’t impress too much, despite boasting Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato and Robinho up front and Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf in midfield. The loss to Cesena early in the campaign convinced Massimiliano Allegri that a somewhat more conservative approach must be adopted and since then, the coach has operated with three defensive midfielders, deploying Kevin Prince Boateng as a "trequartista". Over the Christmas period Ronaldinho left for Flamengo, but having brought Antonio Cassano in, and handed him the last chance in his troubled career, Milan have cover.

Key Man: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the man who has changed the Rossoneri. There is a Milan with the Swede, which is strong, powerful and frightens opponents, and one without him, which can be shy and harmless. Ibrahimovic has scored 12 goals and chipped in with plenty of assists for his team-mates. He is decisive.

Crucial Fixtures Remaining:

AC Milan v Lazio (1st February)
AC Milan v Napoli (28th February)
Juventus v AC Milan (5th March)
AC Milan v Inter (2nd April)
Roma v AC Milan (8th May)

Inter

After winning the Club Word Cup in Abu Dhabi, Inter replaced Rafael Benitez with former Milan coach Leonardo. The Spaniard struggled with his man-management of the champions, with practically the entire team criticising his performance – with the notable exception of Samuel Eto’o, who remained steadfastly loyal. Leonardo’s arrival came as a surprise however, especially to bitter rivals Milan who had considered the Brazilian a true "Rossonero". Under Leonardo many players have returned from injury and the Nerazzurri began to go on a run, one which was ended only recently by Udinese. Nevertheless their form has been good and few could write Inter off yet.

Key Man: Samuel Eto’o scored plenty of goals for Benitez and is continuing to find the net under Leonardo. The Cameroonian’s role up front is vital for the Nerazzurri, especially in a season where Serie A has yet to see the real Diego Milito.

 

Crucial Fixtures Remaining:

Inter v Roma (6th February)
Juventus v Inter (13th February)
AC Milan v Inter (2nd April)
Inter v Lazio (23rd April)
Napoli v Inter (15th May)

 Roma

The Giallorossi are their usual unfinished selves. Inconsistency could prove their weak spot and while producing some fine football, losses against minnows like Brescia and Cagliari could prove to have been vital come the end of the season. Coach Claudio Ranieri has talked up the capital club’s title chances, but both Milan and Inter have more strength in depth than Roma. This season club icon Francesco Totti has not been the key man that might have been thought, and has often started on the bench.

Key Man: Marco Borriello left the Rossoneri when Ibrahimovic landed at Milanello last summer. At the moment however, the Italian has scored nine goals in Serie A and is playing an essential role in the Roma attack. Borriello usually partners either Mirko Vucinic or Frenchman Jeremy Menez. For Roma to truly challenge he must continue firing.

Crucial Fixtures Remaining:

Inter v Roma (6th February)
Roma v Napoli (13th February)
Roma v Lazio (13th March)
Roma v Juventus (3rd April)
Roma v AC Milan (8th May)

Napoli

The southern Italian club are this season’s surprise package. Last year Napoli missed out on qualification for the Champions League but, sitting second at the time of writing, they have a superb opportunity to right that wrong. It is also worth noting that Napoli are the only Italian club still involved in the Europa League. President and filmmaking tycoon Aurelio De Laurentiis is speaking openly about a Champions League spot, but he well knows that Napoli are heavily involved in the title race.

Key Man: Edinson Cavani’s performances have been the icing on the cake in this fantastic season for Napoli. In previous years the Azzurri had Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi as their top men, but this season the Uruguayan has surpassed both, scoring 14 goals so far, including a hat-trick against Juventus. Simply put, with Cavani nothing is impossible.

 

Crucial Fixtures Remaining:

Roma v Napoli (13th February)
AC Milan v Napoli (28th February)
Napoli v Lazio (3rd April)
Napoli v Inter (15th May)
Juventus v Napoli (22nd May)

Juventus

Italy full-back Giorgio Chiellini remarked recently that Juventus had no chance of winning this season’s Serie A, especially because they lost key players to injury throughout the campaign, notably Fabio Quagliarella. Yet, despite Chiellini’s words, Juventus do still have a chance of lifting the Scudetto, and this even though they have dropped points against teams such as Brescia, Bari, Bologna and Parma. Nevertheless a place in next season’s Champions League group stage appears a more likely outcome.

Key Man: Milos Krasic has impressed greatly in his first season in Serie A. The Serbian usually plays in midfield on the right hand side and he has popped up with some important goals for the Old Lady. The problem at Juventus remains that without Quagliarella there are no world-class options up front: Alessandro Del Piero is at the end of a brilliant career, and Brazilian Amauri and ex-Genoa man Luca Toni can’t cut the mustard.

Crucial Fixtures Remaining:

Juventus v Inter (13th February)
Juventus v AC Milan (5th March)
Roma v Juventus (3rd April)
Lazio v Juventus (1st May)
Juventus v Napoli (22nd May)

Lazio

Last season Lazio only avoided dropping into Serie B in the last few days of the campaign, yet this year with a few wise acquisitions, the Rome side topped the table for many weeks. But after defeats to Lecce at home and Bologna away their chances have faded somewhat, and despite still being firmly in the race, surging back up to sit on top of the Serie A table looks an unlikely prospect.

Key Man: Hernanes flirted with both Milan and Inter before heading to Italy last summer, but to the surprise of many he landed at Lazio. The Brazilian has helped the Aquile to fly. He is skilful, determined and plays a vital role in all that is good about the Rome side.

Crucial Fixtures Remaining:

AC Milan v Lazio (1st February)
Roma v Lazio (13th March)
Napoli v Lazio (3rd April)
Inter v Lazio (23rd April)
Lazio v Juventus (1st May)