Italian teams all lose in Champions League

Italian football has faced a historic setback this week, with all four of its teams participating in the Champions League suffering defeats. This marks the first time in the history of Italian football that all four teams have lost in the competition.

AS Roma loses to Real Madrid

AS Roma, coached by Gian Piero Gasperini, lost 4-3 to Real Madrid at the Olympic Stadium, conceding three goals in the final seven minutes. The defeat left Gasperini speechless, describing the week as a transition from "great euphoria to a big disappointment."

Inter Milan also suffers a loss

Inter Milan, who were runners-up in the Champions League in 2023 and 2025, also suffered a 4-3 loss to Club Bruges, with Nicolo Tresoldi scoring a hat-trick.

Defensive struggles highlighted

The performance of Italian teams has raised concerns, with observers noting that the reigning Italian champions have lost seven of their last eight matches in the Champions League. Côme, a player for Inter Milan, stated, "We no longer know how to defend," following a 3-1 loss to Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

Naples fails to hold lead

Similarly, Naples took the lead against Villarreal in the 8th minute but conceded three goals and lost the match. Except for Inter Milan, all other Serie A representatives led their matches but failed to maintain their advantage.

Coaches question defensive skills

Fabio Capello, a former coach of AC Milan and current Sky Sport consultant, questioned whether Italian football no longer knows how to defend. Massimiliano Allegri, the coach of Naples, agreed, stating, "It has almost become a shame to know how to defend," and emphasized the need for greater focus on the defensive side.

Italian football under scrutiny

The poor performance of Italian teams has reignited debates about the level of the Italian Championship, which has been affected by economic difficulties and the reliance on average foreign players. None of the four Italian teams that participated in the Champions League last season (Inter Milan, Naples, Juventus Turin, Atalanta Bergame) have advanced beyond the quarterfinals.

National team's struggles continue

Additionally, the Italian national team has failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup for the third consecutive time under the leadership of Roberto Mancini. Despite some recovery, such as a 1-1 draw with France on October 2, the national team's performance has not been enough to reverse the trend.

Italian clubs at the bottom

After eight matches in the Champions League, the four Italian clubs have only earned four points (three for Côme and one for Roma) and are trailing at the bottom of the rankings. Jose Mourinho, who coached Inter Milan to a victory over AS Roma, does not share the pessimism, stating that "Inter and Roma are really top-level."