Italian clubs on brink of historic Champions League embarrassment
BBC World
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Italian football is on the verge of a historic embarrassment in the Champions League, with the possibility of no Serie A clubs advancing to the last 16 of the competition for the first time since 1987-88. Inter Milan’s shock exit to Norwegian underdogs Bodo/Glimt has left Juventus and Atalanta as the only hope for Italy, but both face significant challenges to overturn their deficits against Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund, respectively. This unprecedented situation highlights a deeper issue in Italian football, with its clubs struggling to compete on the European stage despite Inter’s dominance in Serie A.
The context of this crisis is rooted in the decline of Serie A’s competitiveness. Inter Milan, who reached last season’s final, were knocked out by Bodo/Glimt, marking the first time an Italian club has fallen to a team outside Europe’s top five leagues (England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France). This outcome has been described as a “wake-up call” for Italian football. Juventus trails 5-2 heading into their second leg against Galatasaray, while Atalanta is 2-0 down against Borussia Dortmund ahead of their home match.
The broader implications of this situation extend beyond the Champions League. Inter Milan’s exit underscores the broader struggles of Italian football on the international stage. While other Italian clubs have achieved success in other European competitions—such as Atalanta’s Europa League win in 2024 and Roma’s Conference League victory in 2021—the lack of a competitive Champions League presence reflects a systemic issue within Serie A. This decline is particularly concerning given that Inter Milan, traditionally one of Italy’s most successful clubs, has not won the Champions League since 2010
Verticals
worldpolitics
Originally published on BBC World on 2/25/2026