The Champions League group stage has concluded with mixed fortunes for Italian clubs. Inter Milan emerged as the sole Italian representative directly qualifying for the Round of 16, finishing an impressive fourth in the overall standings. Their commanding 3-0 victory over Monaco, highlighted by Lautaro Martinez’s hat-trick, secured their position behind Liverpool, Barcelona, and Arsenal.
Atalanta showed resilience, earning a commendable 2-2 draw against Barcelona at the Montjuic, thanks to goals from Ederson and Pasalic. Despite their strong performance, they narrowly missed out on a top-eight finish, landing in ninth place. However, their playoff draw looks favorable, with potential matchups against Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge.
The night turned sour for AC Milan and Juventus, both delivering disappointing performances. Milan’s 2-1 loss to Dinamo Zagreb was particularly shocking. A lackluster first half, marred by defensive errors and Musah’s red card, left them struggling. Despite Pulisic’s equalizer, they couldn’t salvage the match, finishing 13th and facing a potential playoff against Juventus or Feyenoord.
Juventus fared no better, suffering a 2-0 home defeat to Benfica. The Bianconeri’s performance was devoid of identity and spirit, leaving fans frustrated and the team languishing in 20th place. Their potential playoff matchup against Milan adds another layer of pressure to their campaign.
These results have dealt a blow to Italy’s UEFA coefficient ranking. While Italy currently maintains second place, crucial for securing an additional Champions League spot next season, their lead over Spain has significantly narrowed to just 0.661 points.
As the dust settles on this group stage, Inter’s success stands in stark contrast to the disappointments of Milan and Juventus. Atalanta’s near-miss adds to the bittersweet narrative of Italian football’s European campaign this season. All eyes now turn to the playoff draw on January 31, where the fate of Milan, Juventus, and Atalanta in this season’s Champions League will be determined.
