Serie A’s four Champions League clubs scored a total of 14 goals in a week of emphatic victories and one glaringly bad defeat.
Inter joined Napoli in the round of 16 as Romelu Lukaku returned from two months out to score as the Nerazzurri routed Viktoria Plzeň 4-0 at San Siro.
The Partenopei struck three times against Rangers to clinch a record fifth successive win, while Milan won 4-0 at Dinamo Zagreb to put themselves firmly into contention to qualify.
However Juventus exited the competition after losing 4-3 in another defensive horror show at Benfica.
Here are four things we learned from a goal-laden matchday five in the Champions League.
Simeone stakes his claim for Napoli start
The man with the Champions League logo tattooed on his arm excelled again in the competition he adores.
Giovanni Simeone struck twice as Napoli rested a number of key players in their three-goal victory over Rangers.
Simeone began the season as the Partenopei’s third choice forward behind Victor Osimhen and Giacomo Raspadori.
Read more: How Cholito Simeone followed in his father’s footsteps
Yet he strengthened his case for a starting berth with two expertly taken goals in five first half minutes as Napoli eased to an historic fifth consecutive group stage victory at Stadio Diego Maradona.
The 27-year-old made the most of a rare start and improved his flawless Champions League scoring statistics to four goals in four games.
Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti kept Osimhen on the bench as Raspadori played out wide with the former Verona and Fiorentina attacker the main focal point up front.
Simeone’s place in the attacking pecking order might not change but the Argentina international proved he is a viable and effective alternative on the highest European stage.
Don’t write off Lukaku yet
Sidelined by injury and panned by the naysayers, Romelu Lukaku showed why it’s wrong to rule him out completely after he claimed a comeback Champions League goal.
The Belgian had become accustomed to being a spectator at San Siro but announced his return with a typically impressive strike as a late substitute in Inter’s four-goal dismissal of Viktoria Plzeň.
The 29-year-old netted in the first week of the Serie A season at Lecce following a controversial loan switch back to the Nerazzurri from Chelsea. Lukaku only played two more games before injury struck.
His goal put the exclamation point on a comprehensive victory which secured Inter’s place in the round of 16 as Barcelona tumbled out of the Champions League at the group stage.
Striking rival Edin Džeko struck twice and midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan was also on target as Inter easily swept past the Czech champions.
Lukaku, who netted 30 goals in the 2020-2021 campaign as the Nerazzurri won the Scudetto, must now prove he is fit enough to lead the line as Inter target a deep run in Europe’s premier competition.
Tonali can lead Milan to the knock-out phase
Sandro Tonali’s authoritative display in Milan’s four-goal demolition of Dinamo Zagreb was reminiscent of the Rossoneri’s great midfielders from yesteryear.
The 22-year-old has already been likened to both Andrea Pirlo and Rino Gattuso but is establishing his own reputation under coach Stefano Pioli.
Read more: Milan’s four best players against Dinamo Zagreb
Tonali curled in a perfectly weighted free-kick which Matteo Gabbia converted to claim the crucial opener in the Croatian capital. The former Brescia midfielder also won a penalty which Olivier Giroud slammed into the top corner.
The Italy international was deservedly named man of the match, and beyond the goal contributions lit up the heat map with a strong running performance of intensity and purpose.
Milan will need more of the same from Tonali as Pioli’s side require a point against RB Salzburg to clinch second place in Group E at San Siro next Wednesday.
Allegri should gamble on Juventus young guns
The only scintilla of positivity to emerge from the Bianconeri’s lamentable Champions League exit came from the Old Lady’s emerging talents.
Benfica sauntered to an alarmingly straightforward 4-3 victory to dump Juve out of the group stage for the first time since the 2013-2014 season.
As club stalwarts Leonardo Bonucci, Juan Cuadrado and Danilo all failed to show up, a trio of youngsters kick-started an unlikely late revival.
English winger Samuel Iling-Junior was only on the field for 20 minutes yet made more of an impact than many of the Juventus veterans.
The 19-year-old provided a superb assist for Arkadiusz Milik to rifle home and played a major role as Weston McKennie claimed another as the Turin club fought back from 4-1 down at Benfica.
Teenage midfielders Fabio Miretti and Matías Soulé, both 19, also added energy and impetus as second half substitutes in an otherwise ruinous defeat as the hosts dominated in Lisbon.
Embattled coach Max Allegri must decide whether to give the youngsters more playing time as Juve come to terms with European elimination against the superstars of Paris Saint-Germain next week.