One more place for Italy in the next edition of the Champions League. And, consequently, in Europe. The official announcement arrived this evening. There were no big doubts about this possibility but the certainty puts Serie A in a position to experience its final rush with a little more certainty: It’s one thing to know that the top five could go to the Champions League, it’s another to be certain of it. Juventus and Bologna would get significantly closer to the finish line, while Roma would go from chasing to being chased (by Atalanta, as well as Lazio and Napoli).
UEFA ranking: Italy ahead of Germany and England
For months Serie A was racing above all for the Bundesliga, “owling” the German formations. However, the situation changed after simultaneous elimination of two English big names, Arsenal and Manchester City, in the Champions League quarter-finals. Now it is the Premier League that risks finding itself outside the top two positions and, consequently, having to “settle” for four teams in the next Champions League. In fact, the ranking situation is this: Italy first with 18,428 points, Germany second with 17,642 and England third with 16,875. The other nations are further behind, from Spain (15,312) to France (15,250). And the prospects for English women are bleak.
West Ham and Liverpool down: the decisive knockouts
Italy knew they had a guaranteed haul of one point thanks to the derby between Roma and Milan which sent the Giallorossi to the semi-final and which brought Italy to 18,856 points, other points came from Atalanta’s qualification to the semi-final. Gasperini’s team despite the defeat secures the pass for the next round. And even more points come from the victory of Fiorentina who beat Viktoria Plzen after a real battle and reached the semi-final of the Conference League. Already on the eve of the match there were two results that Italy needed with the elimination of two Englishmen. Nothing to do for Liverpool and West Ham that scared i fresh European champions Bayer Leverksenbut in the end he is forced to surrender.
Serie A, eight places guaranteed in Europe: maybe a few more
PFor England, only Aston Villa remains in the running in the Conference League. The team of Emery and Zaniolo suffered to reach the semi-finals only on penalties against Lille. Even the Villans’ passage to the semi-finals, however, does not threaten Italy. Which at that point would find itself with five teams in the Champions League, two in the Europa League and one in the Conference. With the possibility of adding further places to the guaranteed ones: if Fiorentina were to win the Italian Cup or the Conference and finish above eighth place, for example, they would still play the EL.
