Italian football is facing a potentially historic low point in European competition, with the alarming possibility that no Serie A club could feature in the Champions League round of 16 this season. Such an outcome would mark a dramatic shift for a league that once dominated continental football and regularly sent multiple teams deep into Europe’s elite tournament.
Since the reintroduction of the Champions League last-16 knockout format in the 2003-04 season, Italian representation at that stage has been a constant. Over the past 22 years, at least one Serie A team has always progressed, and on 12 occasions, as many as three Italian clubs reached the knockout phase. The looming prospect of zero teams advancing therefore represents more than just a poor campaign — it would signal a deeper structural decline within Italian football.
Historically, Italy has been one of the powerhouses of European football. The last time no Italian club made it to the knockout stages of the European Cup or its equivalent was in the 1987-88 season, when Napoli were eliminated in the first round by Real Madrid. That era, however, was very different from the golden age that followed in the 1990s and early 2000s, when Serie A was widely regarded as the strongest league in the world. Clubs such as Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus attracted global superstars and broke transfer records, with Inter famously signing Ronaldo and Christian Vieri for world-record fees.
Italian clubs also enjoyed major European success in the early 21st century. AC Milan defeated Juventus to win the Champions League in 2003, reached the final again in 2005 before losing on penalties to Liverpool, and then lifted the trophy once more in 2007. However, despite those achievements, the most recent Champions League triumph for an Italian club came in 2010, when Inter Milan, managed by Jose Mourinho, completed a historic treble by winning the competition.
In more recent years, Italian teams have found some success in secondary European tournaments. Atalanta captured the Europa League title in 2024, while Roma won the Europa Conference League in 2021. Yet these victories have not masked the growing gap between Serie A and the top European leagues in terms of competitiveness, intensity, and squad depth.
Inter Milan’s recent elimination from the competition has intensified concerns about the state of Italian football. This exit is particularly striking because Inter currently dominate domestically, sitting comfortably ahead of their Serie A rivals. They are 10 points clear of AC Milan and four points ahead of defending champions Napoli, who themselves failed to progress beyond the league phase of the Champions League. Despite being Italy’s strongest team, Inter were unable to convert their domestic form into European success.
Football journalist Vincenzo Credendino described the situation as one of the worst moments in recent Italian football history, suggesting that the issue extends beyond a single season. According to him, the focus should not be on short-term fixes but rather on long-term structural reforms over the next decade or more. His comments reflect a broader sentiment that Serie A is no longer operating at the same competitive level as Europe’s top leagues.
The struggles are not limited to club football. Italy’s national team, which won the European Championship five years ago, now faces the possibility of missing a third consecutive World Cup unless they successfully navigate an upcoming play-off. Their last World Cup victory came in 2006, and their recent inconsistencies further highlight the challenges facing Italian football at multiple levels.
European football analyst Julien Laurens has also pointed to a decline in performance standards, noting that even Italy’s best teams have struggled to match the intensity and pace of European opponents. While Inter applied pressure in their recent matches, it was ultimately insufficient, and Napoli never came close to making a significant impact in the competition. These struggles underline a broader issue of competitiveness when Italian clubs face faster and more physically demanding teams from other leagues.
During the Champions League league phase, Inter finished 10th after winning five of their opening eight matches, while Juventus placed 13th and Atalanta 15th. On paper, these positions suggested that Italian teams were still competitive. However, the play-off rounds exposed significant weaknesses, as all three sides faltered against opponents who finished lower in the standings but demonstrated greater intensity and tactical dynamism.
Italian journalist Daniele Verri argued that the situation is a clear indication that changes are urgently needed within the domestic football system. He emphasized that the problem is structural rather than temporary, with Italian football often criticized for its slower tempo compared to other European leagues. According to Verri, many managers in Italy acknowledge that the game is played at a slower pace domestically, which leaves clubs struggling when they encounter high-intensity teams in European competitions.
Former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri reportedly echoed this view, explaining that training routines in Italy are not necessarily less demanding, but the intensity during matches is significantly lower compared to leagues like the Premier League. This difference in tempo can prove decisive in European matches, where speed, pressing, and physicality often determine outcomes.
Another concern is the migration of top talent away from Serie A. Despite Inter possessing a squad assembled with higher wages and greater financial resources than some of their opponents, Italian clubs continue to lose key players to foreign leagues. Last season’s Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui moved to Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, while Ademola Lookman joined Atletico Madrid and Tijjani Reijnders transferred from AC Milan to Manchester City. Such departures weaken the league’s overall quality and reduce its competitiveness on the European stage.
Although many members of Italy’s national squad still play domestically, several prominent players now represent clubs abroad. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Riccardo Calafiori, Sandro Tonali, and Retegui are among those plying their trade outside Italy, further reflecting the league’s diminished ability to retain elite talent.
Youth development has also emerged as a major area of concern. Laurens highlighted that clubs like Sporting CP, Club Brugge, and Bodo/Glimt have succeeded this season largely due to strong scouting networks and productive academies. In contrast, Italian academies are increasingly criticized for failing to produce enough high-quality players ready for first-team football. This gap in youth development affects long-term sustainability and limits the ability of clubs to rebuild competitive squads.
The immediate crisis has been deepened by Inter Milan’s shock play-off defeat to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, a team making their Champions League knockout debut. Inter lost 3-1 in the first leg and were beaten 2-1 at San Siro, resulting in a 5-2 aggregate elimination. Notably, this marked the first time the Milan club had been knocked out of the Champions League by a team from outside Europe’s traditional top five leagues — England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France.
With Inter already eliminated, the responsibility to preserve Italy’s presence in the last 16 now falls on Juventus and Atalanta. However, both teams face daunting challenges. Juventus trail Galatasaray 5-2 heading into the second leg in Turin, meaning they would need a remarkable turnaround to progress. Meanwhile, Atalanta are 2-0 down on aggregate before hosting Borussia Dortmund, leaving them with a significant deficit to overcome.
Verri described the scenario as a potential “complete debacle” for Italian football if all three clubs fail to progress. He noted the symbolic nature of Inter’s defeat, especially with legends Ronaldo and Christian Vieri present at San Siro, representing a stark contrast between Italy’s glorious past and its current struggles.
Ultimately, the situation serves as a wake-up call for Italian football authorities, clubs, and academies. The combination of slower playing styles, talent drain, insufficient youth development, and tactical stagnation has contributed to a widening gap between Serie A and Europe’s elite competitions. Without meaningful structural reforms and a renewed focus on intensity, scouting, and youth production, Italian clubs risk falling further behind their continental rivals.
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