A night of mixed fortunes for Italian clubs in the Champions League. Inter secured their spot in the Round of 16 with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Monaco, thanks to a sensational hat-trick from captain Lautaro Martinez. With 17 goals in the competition, Martinez has now equaled Sandro Mazzola’s club record in the European Cup. Simone Inzaghi’s squad finished fourth in the overall standings, avoiding the playoff round and advancing directly to the knockout stage, where they will face one of Milan, Juventus, PSV, or Feyenoord.
Meanwhile, Juventus endured a disastrous night at the Allianz Stadium, falling 2-0 to Benfica and facing a wave of boos from frustrated supporters. Thiago Motta’s side, now with two losses in five days, appeared disorganized and uninspired, raising questions about the coach’s future. The Bianconeri will now enter the playoff stage, where they could be drawn against Milan or PSV.
Milan also had a night to forget, suffering a 2-1 defeat against Dinamo Zagreb in a match plagued by defensive lapses and an early red card for Musah. The Rossoneri, who dropped from sixth to thirteenth place, must now navigate the playoffs, potentially facing Juventus or Feyenoord in a high-stakes clash.
Champions League: decisive night as Italian teams fight for qualification
29 Jan - 16:25 •
1' min
Atalanta came close to a statement win against Barcelona but had to settle for a 2-2 draw, meaning they too will have to go through the playoffs. Gasperini’s men fought back twice through Ederson and Pasalic, showing they could compete with the Catalan giants. Now, they await the playoff draw to determine their next opponent.
Bologna, already eliminated from the tournament, bowed out with a respectable 1-1 draw against Sporting Lisbon. Pobega’s goal gave them hope, but the Portuguese side equalized late in the match.
Elsewhere, Manchester City narrowly escaped elimination, overcoming a first-half deficit to beat Club Brugge 3-1. Pep Guardiola’s side will now face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the playoffs. PSG crushed Stuttgart to secure qualification, while Lille and Aston Villa emerged as surprise contenders, clinching spots in the Round of 16.
