Because the recovery of Atalanta-Fiorentina in June is the match that “everyone” (understood as convenience for Italian football) would like the Dea not to win if certain conditions occur.
The qualification ofAtalanta in the final of Europa League makes it official the postponement of the Serie A recovery against the to the end of the season Florentine (at the end of Conference League), with the June 2 indicated as the most realistic date to play the match. The Nerazzurri will be on the pitch in the big match for the trophy against the unbeaten team Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin on May 22nd. The following week (29 May) it will be the turn of the Italian team to attempt to win the cup for the second time in a row by competing againstOlympiakos.
When Atalanta-Fiorentina is played, the first available date in June
This is why the championship match can only be played after the last day and at first useful date of June, taking into account the mutual needs of the clubs and the fact that the Champions League final is at Wembley on Saturday 1st at 9pm. The most probable window on paper seems to be that of Sunday 2nd, which would not even involve bringing forward the 29th round match to the late afternoon (6pm on Saturday) which was canceled due to the very serious illness of the Viola manager, Joe Barone, died in the following hours.
Because the result of Atalanta-Fiorentina could take away a place in the Champions League from Serie A
So far the logistical details, then there are the sporting aspect, the impact that the result of Atalanta-Fiorentina would have on the standings and, consequently, on the teams that will participate in the next editions of the continental club tournaments.
Fifth place Champions League, Roma-Milan, Fiorentina and Atalanta decisive for the UEFA ranking: what is needed
If as things stand there is the possibility that as many as 9 Italian teams will end up in the UEFA draw, there is a detail that gives the recovery of the 29th matchday a paradoxical meaning: that is, a match that “everyone” ( intended as convenience for Italian football, as well as for the shop) they would like the goddess not to win if certain conditions occur.
The reason? Having one more team in the Champions League: six and not five, the latter scenario is foreseen in the event of fourth place in Serie A and victory in the Europa League final for the Bergamo team. In fact, if Atalanta were to finish the championship in the top four places in the league table, a possible triumph in the Europa League would only add the team in fifth position to the Champions League ranks, due to the ranking. With the Orobic team fifth or sixth in the standings, and victorious in the final against Bayer, the top six teams in Serie A would end up in the Champions League.
Hypothesis: if Atalanta wins the Europa League and in injury time with Fiorentina overtakes Bologna in fourth place, pushing them to fifth position, the threshold for qualifying for the Champions League would stop at fifth position, with the possible sixth in the standings (e.g. example Roma) who would find themselves mocked and qualified for the Europa League.
In essence, Atalanta-Fiorentina risks being decisive in establishing the number of Italian teams that will participate in the next Champions League, all with the championship practically concluded and with the final ranking already outlined.
Six Italian teams in the Champions League: why it is possible
At the moment it is certain that there will be five Italian teams in the Champions League. Serie A is entitled to one more place (compared to the 4 foreseen by the regulation) thanks to the UEFA ranking of the current season fueled by the good results in Europe.
Based on this option, taking the current ranking as an example, the situation is as follows: theInter champion of ItalyThe Milanthe JuventusThe Bologna and theAtalanta they would be part of the next (and new) edition of the Cup; Rome And Lazio in the Europa League and the Naples in Conference.
How does sixth place in the Champions League come about for an Italian team? Atalanta must win the Europa League but not place in the top four in the league. In essence, the Serie A ranking should also be the same at the end of the championship so that Inter, Milan, Juventus, Bologna, Atalanta and the sixth in the standings (Roma or even Lazio, -4 behind the Giallorossi) would go to the Champions League. The seventh and eighth places would go to the Europa League and the Conference.
Because Italy can qualify 9 teams in the Cups
Having 9 Italian teams qualify for the Cups is not a bizarre calculation but a possible scenario as long as Fiorentina wins the Conference and does not finish among the top seven in Serie A. the context is twofold: if Atalanta does not win the Europa League and finishes fifth we will have five teams in the Champions League, three in the Europa League (including the Viola who won the Conference) and one in the Conference; if Atalanta wins the Europa League we will have 6 teams in the Champions League, two in the Europa League, one in the Conference.
Below is a summary of the possible scenarios on the number of teams qualified in the Cups, taking into consideration the results of the finals of Atalanta and Fiorentina in the Europa League and Conference:
- Italy does not win any trophies: 5 in the Champions League, 2 in the Europa League, 1 in the Conference
- Atalanta wins the Europa League: 6 teams in the Champions League (the top 5 in Serie A + winning the Europa League), 1 in the Europa League, 1 in the Conference.
- Fiorentina wins the Conference League: 5 teams in the Champions League, 3 in the Europa League (2 from the championship + Fiorentina), 1 in the Conference.
- Atalanta wins the Europa League and Fiorentina wins the Conference: 6 teams in the Champions League (the top 5 in Serie A + winner of the Europa League), 2 in the Europa League (1 from the championship + Fiorentina), 1 in the Conference.
