No Italian team is guaranteed a place in the knockout stages following the conclusion of the final round of matches. Internazionale, AC Milan, Juventus, and Atalanta all failed to secure automatic progression to the round of 16. Internazionale finished their campaign with a draw against RB Leipzig, leaving the side in the play-off positions, according to Reuters. Juventus suffered a defeat to Manchester City, which moved the Turin club down the table.
AC Milan also failed to win their final fixture, meaning the seven-time winners must navigate a two-legged play-off to continue in the competition. Atalanta’s loss to Barcelona confirmed their place outside the top eight. This marks the first time since the current format began that no Italian representative has qualified directly for the last 16, per Sky Sports. Each side now awaits the play-off draw to determine their opponents for the knockout round play-offs in March. The results represent a significant decline in continental performance for Serie A clubs compared to previous seasons.
