Today, the Champions League features 18 simultaneous matches, marking the conclusion of the league phase of this prestigious tournament. All four Italian teams still have a chance to progress to the knockout stages, although their paths vary significantly in difficulty.
Atalanta enters the final matchday as the highest-ranked Italian team, though their momentum was disrupted by a tough 3-2 home loss to Athletic Club. To secure a direct spot in the knockout rounds and avoid playoff matches, they now face a crucial away game against Union Saint-Gilloise.
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Hot on their heels are Juventus and last season’s runners-up, Inter, who are both holding onto slim hopes for an automatic top-eight finish. Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus must win in Monaco while hoping for other teams above them to falter, whereas Inter will confront a challenging environment in Dortmund against a still-competitive opponent. Regardless of the outcomes, every match holds significant importance, as even minor improvements in standings could lead to a much more advantageous seed in the upcoming playoff draw.
Meanwhile, Antonio Conte’s Napoli faces a considerably tougher challenge. They need to secure a home win against Chelsea, who sit on 13 points, and require favorable results from other matches to have any hope of advancing to the playoffs.
Kaulik Mitra | GIFN