Rome, March 16 (BNA): For the first time in 17 years, three Italian teams have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Now they will have to focus on ensuring they qualify for next season’s competition in one of the tightest races for the top four in Serie A, according to the Associated Press.
Napoli, Inter Milan and AC Milan have all reached the quarter-finals of Europe’s major club championship in a kind of redemption for Italian football after the national team once again never qualified for the World Cup.
However, only Napoli look assured of playing in the Champions League next season. The club, which reached the quarter-finals for the first time in its history, is 18 points ahead of Serie A and 21 points ahead of fifth-placed Roma.
Inter Milan and Milan occupy the second and fourth places, respectively, but only three points separate the second place from the fifth place, while Atalanta is only five points behind.
In such a tight race, the teams know they can afford no mistakes even though they were all down on points last weekend.
Milan have the easiest game on the cards this weekend in Udinese, while Roma take on third-placed Lazio in the capital’s derby.
Inter host Juventus in the Derby d’Italia on Sunday, knowing the Bianconeri could also be thrown into the mix for Champions League spots.
Inter drew 0-0 in Porto on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead on aggregate and relieving much of the pressure on coach Simone Inzaghi after mixed results in the league.
The Nerazzurri have won just two of their past five league matches, losing in Spezia and Bologna and drawing in Sampdoria.
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