The final match day of the Champions League Group Phase has set the stage for an intriguing playoff round, with Italian clubs potentially facing each other much earlier than anticipated. As the dust settles on the group stage, the playoff bracket is taking shape, with the official draw scheduled for Friday to finalize the match-ups.
Inter Milan, the only Italian team to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16, finds themselves in a unique position. The Nerazzurri will face the winner of a quartet that includes Feyenoord, Juventus, Milan, and PSV Eindhoven. Friday’s draw will determine whether Inter or Arsenal (who are paired with Inter as the third and fourth-placed teams) will be placed in the upper or lower bracket, but their opponent will inevitably come from this group of four.
The prospect of an all-Italian clash looms large. AC Milan are set to face either Feyenoord or Juventus, while the Bianconeri will be matched against either Milan or PSV. This scenario guarantees that at least two of Italy’s representatives will be pitted against each other or Dutch opposition in the playoff round.
The new Champions League format has introduced the possibility of domestic matchups as early as the playoff stage, a departure from previous editions. This change means both Milan and Juventus have a 50% chance of encountering a fellow Italian team in this crucial phase of the competition.
