What began as a potentially historic week for Italian clubs in Europe ended with mixed emotions. Three wins out of four in the Champions League made for a brilliant start, but Thursday’s Europa League fixtures brought frustration for Roma and Bologna. Fiorentina, at least, delivered a smile with a Conference League victory.
Until Thursday afternoon, it all looked promising. Inter, Napoli, and Atalanta had each managed — despite some struggles — to get the job done in their Champions League matches, while Juventus earned a draw away at Villarreal. Even if the late comeback spoiled the feeling, it was still far from a poor result.
Then came Thursday. Both Roma and Bologna, playing at home at 6:45 PM, stumbled. Roma lost 1–0 in dramatic fashion, failing to convert a penalty that was retaken three (!) times and could have secured a draw. Bologna squandered an early lead against Freiburg, conceding an equalizer and finishing with just a point.
Later that evening, Fiorentina gave some relief to Italian football overall, earning precious UEFA ranking points that could help Serie A secure a fifth Champions League spot for next season. Doing well in Europe now carries extra weight.
But beyond results, this European stretch highlights one truth: Italian sides are not in great health.
Atalanta came from behind at home against Brugge — a team that nearly haunted them again — but it should have been easier given the technical gap. Instead, they had to fight hard until the end.
Napoli’s case was similar. Injuries, particularly in defense, hurt them against Sporting Lisbon. After a deserved first-half lead, Conte’s side had the tools to kill the game on the counter, but instead collapsed into their own box, conceding a penalty that nearly cost them everything. Only the brilliance of De Bruyne and Højlund, combining late for a second goal, turned the tide. Still, questions remain — especially about Scott McTominay.
Last season’s Scudetto hero looks lost, often stepping on De Bruyne’s toes instead of complementing him. Against Sporting, he faded into KDB’s shadow. Conte must find a way to make them coexist without sacrificing balance. It’s a tough puzzle, but one he cannot afford to ignore.
Inter, on the other hand, capitalized on a favorable draw. With two commanding wins — at Ajax and at home against Slavia Prague — Chivu’s side sit top of the group with six points. Credit to the coach for keeping it simple and letting superior quality do the work. The real test will come when the level rises.
Juventus look shaky. Tudor’s team showed worrying signs already in the draw with Dortmund, when a late rally masked their flaws. Against Villarreal, the opposite happened — they crumbled at the end. Luck comes and goes, but solutions must come from the pitch, not fate. Otherwise, every European night risks becoming a lottery.
The Europa League truly stung. Roma’s 1–0 loss to Lille was a missed chance to take control of the group. The three retaken penalties, all saved, will go down as one of the most bizarre and tragicomic episodes in the competition’s history. More importantly, Roma’s goalscoring crisis is real and glaring.
Bologna also wasted an opportunity against Freiburg. Orsolini — one of Serie A’s most underrated talents — scored yet again, but the Rossoblù couldn’t hold on. With just one point from two matches, they must find momentum quickly.
Finally, Fiorentina opened their Conference League campaign with a win under Pioli, but question marks remain. The opposition was weak, yet the Viola still looked unconvincing: scoring too little, conceding too much. They have the quality to push for the trophy and climb in Serie A, but they need to rediscover balance and, above all, goals — starting with Moise Kean.
