Welcome back to Smith, Soccer Made in Italy. Let’s take a look at the 24th matchday of Serie A, which saw Inter close the gap on Napoli. On paper, it should have been a favorable round for the Partenopei, yet Antonio Conte’s side were held to a 1-1 draw at home, at the Maradona, against Udinese.
A surprising result, especially considering that Napoli had taken the lead. However, just as it happened to Conte’s team the previous week at the Olimpico against Roma, they ended up conceding an equalizer. In short, back-to-back games where they gave up leads have cost Napoli four points in the standings—an enormous amount, given how tight the race at the top is. Inter, on the other hand, won the rematch of their recent clash at the Franchi, beating Fiorentina 2-1 at San Siro. It wasn’t without controversy or difficulty, but ultimately, the three points matter the most. With this Monday night win, Simone Inzaghi’s side has now moved within just one point of Conte’s Napoli.
Atalanta is back in the mix as well, securing a dominant victory on Verona’s turf, firmly re-establishing themselves near the top two.
The Champions League race is just as thrilling. Milan secured two crucial goals—and three even more crucial points—against Empoli, a match that initially looked to be slipping away. The Rossoneri were down to ten men, and winning away at a tough ground like Empoli’s seemed like a distant possibility.
Still in the Champions League battle, Lazio claimed an undisputed victory over Monza. It’s hard to determine where Lazio’s undeniable merits end and Monza’s (longstanding) shortcomings this season begin. The latter seems destined for an uninspiring campaign, likely leading to relegation to Serie B.
In Friday’s opening match, Juventus—who will play in the Champions League tonight—struggled but ultimately secured a win on the road against Como. Fabregas’ Como is an entertaining and well-organized team, but Juventus, with a bit of cynicism and a touch of luck (which never hurts), managed to take home all three points. This victory puts them firmly back in contention for a Champions League spot. Of course, for a club whose motto is “Winning is the only thing that matters”, simply qualifying for the Champions League is the bare minimum. However, it does bring some much-needed stability to the Bianconeri.
As for the European race, Bologna stumbled with a half-step backward in Lecce. The two dropped points at Via del Mare could prove costly, as they allow Milan to draw level in the standings. This makes their upcoming direct clash—when Bologna and Milan face off in the postponed fixture at the Dall’Ara—all the more decisive in this thrilling race.
Roma, meanwhile, has found a new gear, as shown by their second consecutive away win after Udine, this time in Venice. The northeast quadrant of Italy seems to be a lucky one for the Giallorossi, who had long struggled away from home.
In the Champions League, for teams that failed to secure direct qualification for the Round of 16 in the initial league-format group stage, the upcoming 180-minute playoffs will be crucial in determining their European future.
Juventus faces a challenging tie against PSV, while Milan has an intriguing matchup against Feyenoord. The Rossoneri will have the advantage of playing the second leg at home, a potential edge in the tie. Adding further intrigue is the presence of Giménez, Milan’s new signing, who was just brought in from Feyenoord.
Atalanta has landed a seemingly manageable draw against Club Brugge, though they must remain cautious.
On Thursday, Ranieri’s Roma will return to the spotlight in the Europa League. Over 180 minutes, with the second leg to be played at the Stadio Olimpico, they will need to overcome Porto—historically a tough opponent for Roma. Given their struggles in the league, the Giallorossi can’t afford to let this European opportunity slip away.
