The Champions League is back, and for Serie A, the next two days could be significant. Never in the history of the competition, since the group stage was introduced in 1992/93, has Italy failed to advance a single team to the round of 16.
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It hasn’t happened since 1987, when the tournament was known as the European Cup. Following a disappointing performance in the first legs, the stakes are high for Inter, Atalanta, and Juventus. Each team would need a remarkable turnaround—specifically, 7 goals total to have a chance (two each for the two Nerazzurri teams, and three for the Bianconeri). In other words, an extraordinary achievement.
As they gear up for the matches, Opta has provided predictions on potential outcomes.
🤖 Slim Chances: Inter’s Outlook…
confidence in their pursuit of the Scudetto, leading the league by 10 points. This cushion could allow Lautaro and his teammates to channel their energy into the European tournament, but they must first secure their pass. However, Opta suggests their chances remain low: even at San Siro, Inter stands at just a 40.2% chance of advancing.
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And what about the other two teams? Atalanta faces an uphill battle to overturn their 2-0 loss in Dortmund. Despite their recent victory against Napoli in the league, the Dea boasts only a 16.3% chance of progressing.
Juventus finds themselves in the most precarious situation; with a 5-2 deficit from the first leg in Istanbul, Opta gives Spalletti’s squad a mere 14.6% chance.
Since their controversial defeat in the Derby d’Italia, Juventus has struggled. A comeback of this magnitude seems nearly impossible.
đź‘€ Other Matchups
In fixtures not involving Italian teams, Opta predicts strong outcomes for Atletico (74.8%) and Real Madrid (80.9%), likely to progress against Club Brugge and Benfica, respectively.
Qualification chances are overwhelmingly in favor of PSG (92.2%), Newcastle (99.8%), and Bayer Leverkusen (93.1%), following their impressive first leg away victories against Monaco (2-3), Qarabag (1-6), and Olympiacos (0-2).
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Yet, as we know, football can throw curveballs, and we hope to see some surprises in favor of our three teams. With the National Team close to qualifying for its first World Cup since 2014, it’s crucial that our elite clubs send a powerful message.
This article has been translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. Read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.