All Serie A Teams Suffer Losses in Champions League Matches

Roma faced Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico, surrendering a 3-1 lead and ultimately losing 4-3, conceding three goals in the final seven minutes. Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed his disappointment, stating, "We went from a moment of great euphoria to deep disappointment."

Inter Milan, who were runners-up in 2023 and 2025, suffered a surprising defeat at the hands of Club Brugge, with Italian-German player Nicolo Tresoldi scoring a hat-trick to lead his team to a 4-3 victory at the San Siro.

Como, in their first Champions League away match, initially took the lead against Feyenoord but fell short, losing 3-2 in Rotterdam. Napoli, despite scoring first against Villarreal, also lost 3-1.

Except for Inter, each Serie A team had moments where they led, yet none could maintain their advantage. Traditionally, Italian clubs have been known for their strong defensive play, boasting a history of 12 European Cup titles.

This season, storied clubs AC Milan and Juventus did not qualify for the tournament, sparking concern regarding the state of Italian football. Fabio Capello, a former coach for Milan and Real Madrid, questioned whether defensive skills have diminished in Italian football. Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri echoed this sentiment, noting the need for improved defensive focus, especially in the Champions League, where few mistakes are tolerated.

Italian clubs poured significant investment into player acquisitions during the summer, but they still lag behind the financial power of Premier League teams and Paris Saint-Germain. Comparing current standards to the 1990s, when Italian clubs frequently set world transfer records, the appeal for top international players appears diminished.

Last season, none of the Serie A clubs—Inter Milan, Napoli, Juventus, and Atalanta—advanced past the last 16, marking the fourth time in six seasons Italy lacked representation in the quarter-finals after consistently having teams reach that stage for 15 years.

The Italian national team has not participated in a World Cup knockout match since winning the 2006 final against France. Recent matches indicate potential recovery under coach Roberto Mancini, yet the Champions League results have been disappointing, with Serie A teams gathering only four points so far.

Despite the losses, Real Madrid coach José Mourinho remains optimistic about the quality of Inter and Roma, asserting they are performing at a high level. Next week, the four teams will have opportunities to rebound in their upcoming home matches against Shakhtar Donetsk, Slovan Bratislava, Bodo/Glimt, and Manchester United.