Serie A has for a long time been one of Europe’s top five leagues headed by giants such as Juventus and AC Milan. However, in recent years teams from the league have struggled to make a significant impact in the UEFA Champions League. With the nation boasting seven-time winners in the Rossoneri they have certainly not been living up to their reputation over the past decade. This year that could be set to change.
Napoli are one of the favourites to secure European success
Napoli have improved hugely this season to become one of Europe’s most frightening outfits. The departures of the likes of Lorenzo Insigne and Kalidou Koulibaly left the club with huge work to do in the transfer market. But they recruited excellently, having delved into Europe’s obscure leagues to find little-known gems that have excelled in Naples.
Premier League champions Manchester City could potentially provide the largest obstacle to Napoli’s quest for European success. In Premiership betting odds they are no longer favourites to retain their Premier League title as they are behind Arsenal at odds of 11/10. The fact their domestic status as champions is at risk could increase their hunger and desire on the European stage. Napoli have done immensely well to even be considered as one of the favourites to win the UCL, but City are the outright favourite currently.
The most likely final according to betting odds is a face-off between the two blue sides. Napoli vs City are offered at odds of 4/1 to be the sides that line up for the UCL final in Istanbul. Italian football is on the rise and Napoli currently leads the charge.
All ready at the Maradona ???
? #ForzaNapoliSempre #TuttoPerLei pic.twitter.com/S8ckFdJioV
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) April 2, 2023
Milan sides are going deep into Europe once again
Both AC Milan and Inter Milan have made little impact at the continental level in recent times. However, victories over Spurs and Porto respectively saw them both reach the quarter-finals, which neither had done for over 10 years.
Juve have been domestically dominant long-term and Napoli are leading the way this season in Serie A, but the Milan sides are the most reputable in terms of European competition and their level of success defines where Italy is as a footballing nation. The two sides have won the UCL 10 times combined and have been ever-present in Italian football’s greatest triumphs on the European stage.
Milan and Inter have previously met in the competition on two occasions in the early 2000s where they played out some of the most fierce and iconic contests in UCL history. Their periods of success have offered some of the golden eras of Italian football. Milan scooped numerous successes in the early 21st century, and Inter famously defeated Bayern Munich in 2010.
Olivier Giroud’s new deal with AC Milan will be valid until June 2024, salary will be €3.5m net per season plus add ons. ????? #ACMilan
It will be signed in April, official soon. pic.twitter.com/BOIItNR61u
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 30, 2023
Fresh history could be written this year to add to a long list of Italian successes in European competition. Italian clubs are on the verge of conquering Europe’s elite after a long wait to be competitive again. It remains to be seen whether they can topple the English, Spanish and German giants.
Image from: unsplash.com
