For Gianni Brera, the famous Italian sports journalist and writer, 0-0 was once considered the perfect score in a football match. He believed goals only appeared when players made defensive or tactical errors.

This mindset was deeply ingrained in Italian football, where steel defenses and tactical discipline were prioritized over entertainment. Victory was paramount, regardless of how exciting the match was. However, over time, the philosophy that once defined Italian football is slowly losing its place.

Nico Paz (center) dribbles during the 0-0 draw between Como and AS Roma in Serie A's sixth round at Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como, Italy on 11/10. Photo: Reuters

The clearest evidence lies in the statistics from the start of this season. After 60 matches, Serie A has only seen one 0-0 draw, between Como and AS Roma last weekend. Ironically, these are two of the league's most open-playing teams.

Before this, Serie A experienced 54 consecutive matches with at least one goal. The last time the league saw a 0-0 scoreline was in the Fiorentina versus Genoa match in the 36th round of last season, when both teams were fighting against relegation.

Is this a sign that Italian football is truly changing, or merely a temporary phenomenon?

Changes from refereeing

One significant reason for this shift is the way matches are officiated. Before the season, new head of referees Daniele Orsato issued several directives aimed at increasing ball-in-play time and reducing interruptions.

Referees are now required to strictly penalize time-wasting, limit fouls for minor contact, and make decisions proactively rather than relying too heavily on VAR.

These adjustments quickly made a difference. Last season, the average ball-in-play time in Serie A was about 54 minutes per match. After the first six rounds this season, that number is approaching 60 minutes.

The nearly six-minute increase in ball-in-play time helps matches maintain a higher tempo, facilitating quick transitions and increasing scoring opportunities.

Coach Ruben Amorim (black shirt) gives instructions during AC Milan's 3-0 victory over Lecce in Serie A at San Siro, Milan, Italy on 20/9. Photo: Reuters

AS Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who often criticized refereeing, is now one of its strongest supporters.

"I really like the new rules," Gasperini stated in august. "The biggest beneficiaries are the fans. Before, they had to watch boring matches where the goalkeeper touched the ball more than all other players combined".

The Italian coach particularly praised the rule requiring players to stay off the field for one minute after receiving medical attention. "Now, no one feigns injury by staying on the ground. Everyone immediately gets up. These rules are well-designed. Fans want to watch football, not players constantly wasting time," he added.

Ruben Amorim, who took over AC Milan this summer, also noted the positive impact. "If you follow Serie A this season, you will see the league is changing," Amorim remarked last weekend. "Referees blow the whistle less, and medical teams enter the field less often. As a result, the ball is in play more. Previously, many complained about 0-0 draws, but now, we are witnessing more exciting plays".

Attacking mindset replaces defensive philosophy

Beyond refereeing, Serie A's transformation also stems from coaching philosophies. As modern football increasingly emphasizes possession, pressing, and proactive attacking, Italian clubs are gradually abandoning the view of prioritizing clean sheets at all costs.

Cesc Fabregas is a prime example of this new trend. The Spanish coach led Como to their first Champions League qualification with a modern attacking style, becoming a role model for many Italian teams.

Coach Cesc Fabregas gives instructions during the draw against AS Roma. Photo: LiveScore

Even Gerry Cardinale, AC Milan's owner, wants to change direction after parting ways with coach Massimiliano Allegri. According to backstage information, Cardinale seeks a coach with a mindset similar to Fabregas, someone not solely focused on the past. The message is clear: Milan needs a coach who prioritizes scoring goals over the fear of conceding.

This trend is not limited to big clubs. Even newly promoted teams aim to secure their place in the league through proactive play, rather than setting up dense defenses in front of their goal.

"No team only defends deep for 90 minutes anymore," Amorim observed. "Venezia is at the bottom of the table due to poor results, but they still press across the entire field".

Frosinone is another example. Under Massimo Alvini, this newly promoted team pursues a clear identity, regardless of whether the opponent is Como, Napoli, or Juventus.

"We know which path we must follow," Alvini stated after the victory over Como. "The whole team played a high-level match against a quality opponent, with beautiful football. It's great to dedicate this victory to the city of Frosinone and the club's American owners".

However, the shift towards attacking football does not receive universal agreement. Fabio Capello, the renowned coach who led Milan, Roma, and Real Madrid, believes Italian teams are losing their traditional defensive capabilities.

On Sky Italia earlier this week, Capello criticized Serie A clubs for no longer knowing how to defend, citing their disappointing performance in the Champions League, where Italian representatives lost all four matches and conceded a total of 14 goals. Allegri shares a similar view, suggesting that modern football creates a sense that defending is almost shameful.

Nevertheless, the attacking trend across Europe is becoming increasingly evident. Just one day after Capello's remarks, matches played on that day saw 46 goals in nine games, demonstrating the appeal of forward-thinking football.

Serie A has the fewest 0-0 draws in Europe

Statistics indicate that the current start to the Serie A season is particularly rare.

The last time the Italian league went through the first five rounds without a 0-0 draw was in the 1949-1950 season. Back then, the first goalless draw did not appear until round seven, between Milan and Lazio.

Graphic: Hong Duy (AI assisted)

Since Serie A adopted the three points for a win format, no season has seen all of the first 50 matches feature at least one goal.

In the first 60 matches this season, only one match ended 0-0, representing 1,7%. This is the lowest rate among Europe's five top national leagues.

Notably, the scarcity of goalless draws coincides with a clear increase in goals scored. After six rounds, Serie A recorded 172 goals, an average of 2,87 goals per match. During the same period last season, the league only had 143 goals. Thus, the number of goals increased by 29, or 20,3%.

These numbers reflect a more open Serie A, where teams are willing to take risks to score goals rather than focusing solely on defending their net.

Of course, six rounds are not enough to confirm that Italian football has completely broken away from its defensive traditions. But as referees, coaches, and players adapt to the new trend, the image of Serie A being associated with tight, low-scoring matches seems to be fading into the past.

And who knows, the catenaccio philosophy that once defined Italian football may no longer be the defining characteristic of Serie A in the future.

Hong Duy (according to Eurosport)