All seven Serie A clubs are still involved in European competitions and Football Italia rates their next opponents in the knock-out stages of the Champions League, Conference League and Europa League.
Champions League
Milan v Tottenham – The Rossoneri will play their first game at San Siro against an opponent who they know very well: Antonio Conte. The Italian tactician has lost just one of his 14 meetings with the Rossoneri. Despite their three defeats in the last five Premier League games, Spurs won their Champions League group and are the classic Conte team we already witnessed in Italy with Inter and Juventus. A tricky task for the Rossoneri who have gained European experience last season, but must match Spurs’ intensity to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Difficulty rating: 7/10
Inter v Porto – The Nerazzurri will also begin the knock-out phase at home having finished their group runners-up to Bayern Munich. Beppe Marotta said that the draw could be favourable to Inter on paper, although the Nerazzurri have the ‘utmost respect’ for Porto. Their coach Sergio Conceição is a former Inter winger. He knows Italian football well and has already eliminated Juventus in 2020-21 despite not being favourite, so Inter should not underestimate their opponent when February comes.
Difficulty rating: 6/10
Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt – On paper, the best draw for Italian clubs in Champions League today. The Partenopei look unplayable right now, they are the only unbeaten team in Serie A and have only lost one game across all competitions, against Liverpool. The situation could be different in February, although the Partenopei – the only Serie A team to win their Champions League group this season – would be the favourite regardless. Eintracht are the defending Europa League champions and are just five points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. Juventus loanee Luca Pellegrini could give some valuable tips about Luciano Spalletti’s playing style.
Difficulty rating: 5/10
Europa League
Juventus v Nantes – The Bianconeri dropped down from their Champions League group for the first time since 2013. Nantes were not the toughest opponent the draw had to offer as they sit 16th in the Ligue 1 table, just one above the relegation zone. They have two victories, six draws and as many defeats in 14 league matches and have scored 15 goals, conceding 22. On paper, only Juventus can make life complicated for themselves.
Difficulty rating: 4/10
Roma v RB Salzburg – Contrary to Juventus, Roma will play the first match away and the return leg at the Stadio Olimpico, but their opponent is much tougher. Salzburg faced Milan in their Champions League group and despite a 4-0 loss at San Siro, they held the Rossoneri to a 1-1 draw in Austria and collected the same result against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. A tough opponent for the Giallorossi who, like Milan against Tottenham, will have to match their intensity, especially in their away game. The biggest threats are Junior Adamu and Noah Okafor, 11 and 10 goals respectively this season, while Tammy Abraham and Andrea Belotti will have to show something more than what they are currently doing to cause trouble for solid-rock centre-back Strahinja Pavlovic.
Difficulty rating: 7/10
Conference League
Lazio v CFR Cluj – Italian clubs were the ones to avoid in the Conference League play-off draw. Lazio were paired with Romanian side CFR Cluj , coached by Dan Petrescu, and will play the first game away. Cluj currently sit fourth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Farul Constanta, but with three games in hand. They have Italian goalkeeper Simone Scuffet between the sticks, while their best scorer so far is Ciprian Deac, who has five goals in 28 games.
Difficulty rating: 4/10
Fiorentina v SC Braga – Tricky fixture for the Tuscans who will play their first game at home in February. Not the best possible draw for the Tuscans. Braga have 25 points in 12 games in Liga Portugal and sit third behind Porto and Benfica. A potential threat for the Tuscans could be 22-year-old Vitinha, their current best scorer with eight goals in 18 games.
Difficulty rating: 6/10
7/10? That’s being very hopeful.
The last time Milan beat an English team was on 15th February 2012. Since then, it has been 0-3 to Arsenal, 0-2 to Arsenal, 1-3 to Arsenal, 1-1 with Man Utd, 0-1 to Man Utd, 2-3 to Liverpool, 1-2 to Liverpool, 0-3 to Chelsea and 0-2 to Chelsea.
That 8 defeats and 1 draw in 9 games. 5 successful defeats, conceding 9 goals and conceding 3.
I’m hopeful but not blind to the reality of how far we have fallen.
Fiorentina and Milan probably have it the toughest. Both might struggle to go through.
Milan’s record against English teams is atrocious, far worse than any other Serie A side, most of whom do ok against epl teams.
But all 7 have a decent shot, given the draw was as good as Italy could have hoped for.
The Italians will take it for being easy and leave half the team on the bench only to be defeated and unable to turn the tie around, 6 out of 7 clubs going through is good target.
Italians love to throw away european competitions in favour of the domestic league. Let’s hope this time it’s the other way around!
I wouldn’t sleep on Eintracht Frankfurt. They’re a team with a real penchant for causing upsets. They didn’t win the Europa League by accident.
Milan’s result against the English in the last decade or so (when Milan was at their worst) means little. This is a tough draw, but it’s also a very different Milan.
7/10 is as logical and fair as it gets.