Frosinone and Monza Lead the Defensive Charge: Serie A’s Most Active Players in 2026/27
Defensive activity in Serie A during the 2026/27 season has produced some striking individual performances. Across a sample of 287 players who have reached the minimum threshold of 270 minutes, the league median stands at 1.51 total tackles and 2.81 defensive actions. These figures provide a useful benchmark for identifying players operating well above the competition’s typical level.
The leading performers are particularly impressive because several combine high tackle numbers with substantial defensive involvement in other areas. Frosinone and Monza are especially prominent, with both clubs placing two players among the top 12. At the summit, however, one name stands out above the rest.
The Leaders: Cittadini Sets the Standard
G. Cittadini (Frosinone) tops the ranking with 3.8 total tackles and 8.81 defensive actions, producing a combined figure of 12.61. His defensive-actions tally is more than three times the league median, making him the standout performer in the dataset. With 521 minutes played, his position is also supported by a substantial contribution of playing time rather than merely scraping past the eligibility threshold.
E. Holm (Bologna) takes second place with 4.74 tackles and 6.32 defensive actions, giving him a combined total of 11.06. His tackle figure is the highest among all players in the top 12. Holm has accumulated 285 minutes, just above the 270-minute minimum, so his numbers will be worth monitoring as his playing time increases.
Leonardo Balerdi (AS Roma) completes the top three. His 3.49 tackles and 6.72 defensive actions add up to 10.21, underlining an impressive balance between the two categories. E. Kouadio (Monza) follows in fourth with 3.06 tackles and 6.38 defensive actions, for a total of 9.44. His 705 minutes make him one of the more established contributors among the leading names.
P. Masini (Frosinone) gives his club a second representative in the top five, recording 3.28 tackles and 5.74 defensive actions for a combined 9.02. Junior Messias (Genoa) is close behind with 3.64 tackles and 5.2 defensive actions, reaching 8.84 overall.
The rest of the top 12 features N. Zalewski (Atalanta) on 8.18, A. Bakoune (Monza) on 8.12, K. Gaspar (Lecce) and A. Fadera (Cagliari) on 8.01 each. D. Bartesaghi (AC Milan) records 8.00, while L. Lipani (Sassuolo) rounds out the group at 7.98. Bakoune's inclusion is particularly notable: he has played only 277 minutes, yet already ranks among the league's most active defensive contributors.
Anomalies: From Minimal Involvement to Outstanding Output
At the other end of the spectrum, F. Esposito (Inter) records 0.53 total tackles and 0.53 defensive actions. W. Falcone (Lecce) and M. Svilar (AS Roma) are both listed at just 0.2 in each category. All three figures sit well below the league medians of 1.51 tackles and 2.81 defensive actions.
These low numbers should be interpreted in context. A limited volume of defensive activity does not automatically indicate poor performance: a player's role, team possession and the demands of individual matches can all influence how frequently defensive actions occur. The figures describe involvement, not the overall quality of a player's contribution.
The high-efficiency group reinforces the dominance of the leading performers. G. Cittadini (Frosinone) again heads the picture with 3.8 tackles and 8.81 defensive actions. E. Kouadio (Monza) follows with 3.06 and 6.38 respectively, while M. Hermoso (AS Roma) records 2.07 tackles and 5.38 defensive actions.
The appearance of Cittadini and Kouadio in both the leading rankings and the high-output group confirms their importance to this statistical snapshot. Hermoso also stands out for his defensive-action total, which is comfortably above the league median, despite a lower tackle figure than the other two players.
Conclusion: Frosinone and Monza Make Their Mark Through Defensive Activity
The early statistical picture of Serie A's 2026/27 season highlights a handful of players operating at a remarkably high level of defensive involvement. G. Cittadini (Frosinone) leads the overall ranking, E. Holm (Bologna) sets the pace for total tackles, and Leonardo Balerdi (AS Roma) completes an impressive top three.
Frosinone and Monza deserve particular recognition, with two players apiece inside the top 12. Their presence suggests that defensive activity is a notable feature of their current statistical profiles. Nevertheless, the sample remains limited to players with at least 270 minutes, and the rankings could shift as the season progresses. For now, Cittadini is the benchmark, while Holm, Balerdi and Kouadio are among the strongest challengers.