Filippo Inzaghi has done it. After a tense and tactical Serie B campaign, he’s led Pisa to promotion, returning the club to Serie A for the first time since the early 1990s. The ex-Milan striker, a Champions League winner turned journeyman coach, now sets up an intriguing narrative for 2025–26. His Pisa side will join the top flight just as his younger brother, Simone, is expected to continue at the helm of Inter Milan. One city by the Arno, the other defined by the Duomo. Two brothers, two benches, one league.
This is not the first time brothers have managed simultaneously in Italy’s top tier, but never with the same resonance. Filippo’s coaching career has been more erratic than Simone’s steady rise. Spells at Milan, Venezia, Bologna, Brescia, Reggina, and Salernitana all taught him something, though none brought stability. At Pisa, he found a board willing to trust his methods. He kept the team compact, leaned on the counter-attack, and coaxed goals out of veteran Gaetano Masucci. It was enough. Pisa finished second, edging out Cremonese and Catanzaro, sealing automatic promotion.
The buzz surrounding Pisa’s return to Serie A extends beyond football purists, capturing the attention of sports betting enthusiasts. Many bookmakers are offering early odds on Pisa’s fixtures, providing broader markets that include team-specific specials and carryover bets from Serie B.
Most of the best betting sites not on GamStop have listed Pisa at 3.75 to win their opening game. Additionally, odds for the much-anticipated Inzaghi derby, where Filippo Inzaghi’s Pisa will face his brother Simone’s Inter Milan, are drawing significant interest.
Beyond match outcomes, these sites offer prop bets that traditional platforms might overlook, such as the number of goals scored by Pisa in the season or specific player performances. This comprehensive coverage allows bettors to engage with the narrative of Pisa’s Serie A journey in a more nuanced way. For those seeking a more expansive betting experience on Pisa’s Serie A return, exploring the best non-Gamstop betting sites could provide a wider array of options and potentially more competitive odds.
However, questions remain. Will Pisa strengthen enough to compete, or will they stick with the players who dragged them over the line in Serie B? The summer window will be crucial. Filippo Inzaghi favours experience, especially in defence. It would be no surprise to see him bring in players he’s worked with before, perhaps from his Salernitana days. He’s also adept at working on a budget, something Pisa’s modest financial structure demands. They can’t splash the way Venezia or Parma might. Every deal must count.
Then there’s the matter of style. Serie A has evolved tactically. Teams press more. Possession is more valued. Filippo’s pragmatism might look outdated unless adjusted. At Salernitana, he struggled to impose consistency. Critics argue that his teams often lean too heavily on moments of luck or individual quality. However, when those moments come, they can be match-defining. The hope among Pisa’s supporters is that Serie A firepower won’t simply blow their team away before Christmas.
Looking ahead, the fixture calendar will draw a red circle around the first Pisa vs Inter match. Simone Inzaghi has built a juggernaut at Inter. Tactical flexibility, depth in midfield, and Lautaro Martínez’s consistency make them perennial title contenders. When the two brothers meet on the touchline, it won’t be a duel of equals. Still, it will be packed with emotion. Filippo’s challenge is to turn sentiment into structure. For now, he’s not expected to out-coach Simone. What he can do is make Pisa competitive, keep them tight at the back, and cause problems on the break.
There’s nostalgia, too. The Inzaghi brothers were iconic players. One lived in the box, the other worked in midfield. Now both are coaching, adapting, and learning. Their paths cross again, not on the field this time, but as leaders. Italian football thrives on drama, and the 2025–26 season already has its narrative arc. The Arno versus the Navigli. Blue and black against black and blue. Filippo and Simone. Pisa is back, and so is the family rivalry.
