Italy’s grip on European football is slipping. Following a disastrous week in the Champions League knockout playoffs, the prospect of having zero Italian clubs in the Round of 16 is now a very real threat.
With Napoli already eliminated in the league phase—one of the season’s biggest shocks—all eyes are on the three remaining “play-off” teams to save Serie A’s pride.
The Italian Horror Show: Play-off First Leg Results
The three Italian representatives all suffered defeats in their opening legs, leaving them with massive mountains to climb in the return fixtures.
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Galatasaray 5–2 Juventus: In the shock of the week, the “Old Lady” was dismantled in Istanbul. Despite a brace from Teun Koopmeiners giving Juve a 2–1 halftime lead, a second-half collapse and a Juan Cabal red card allowed Galatasaray to score four goals after the break.
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Bodo/Glimt 3–1 Inter Milan: In freezing Norwegian conditions, Inter struggled on the synthetic turf. Manager Cristian Chivu confirmed the night got even worse as captain Lautaro Martínez suffered a serious injury that could sideline him for weeks.
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Borussia Dortmund 2–0 Atalanta: A clinical Dortmund side, led by Serhou Guirassy, comfortably dispatched the Bergamaschi at Signal Iduna Park.
The Coefficient Crisis: Bundesliga Surges Ahead
While Italy falters, German clubs are flourishing. Dortmund’s win and Bayer Leverkusen’s 2–0 victory over Olympiacos have propelled the Bundesliga past Portugal in the UEFA Coefficient rankings.
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The Bonus Spot: Currently, England and Germany occupy the top two spots in the seasonal coefficient. These positions are vital as they grant an extra Champions League slot (5th place) for next season.
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Italy Falling Behind: Italy started the week as a favorite for that bonus spot, but the three play-off losses have seen them slip. With Bayern Munich already safely in the Round of 16, Germany is now in the driver’s seat to secure that fifth ticket.
Can Anyone Turn It Around?
The return legs will be played next week (February 24–25) at the San Siro, Allianz Stadium, and Gewiss Stadium.