Champions League: Italy collapses in UEFA rankings, England top
According to Tuttosport and TuttoMercatoWeb, Italian clubs suffered a black day in the Champions League, with four simultaneous defeats, a historic first, which jeopardises chances of a fifth ticket for the next edition.
The Champions League turned into a nightmare for Italian clubs. According to Tuttosport, the defeat of Serie A teams in the top competition discourages calculations about the extra spot for the next edition. TuttoMercatoWeb calls it a "total debacle" and a "Caporetto" for Italian football, with four losses recorded on the same evening, a first in history.
UEFA ranking turned upside down
According to Calcio e Finanza, England have jumped to first place in the UEFA rankings, while Italy have slipped back. Calciomercato.com headlines the race for an extra Champions League spot, but TuttoMercatoWeb notes that Italy are "barely" in the Top 10 and far off the top two positions.
A night to forget
TuttoMercatoWeb reports that Tuesday's action was marked by defeats for Inter and Napoli, which did nothing to improve Italy's ranking. The Italian outlet stresses that these results dent hopes of securing a fifth ticket for the next Champions League edition.
According to Tuttosport, this debacle makes the goal of a fifth ticket "a mirage" for Italy. The UEFA rankings, which determine the allocation of these additional spots, are now highly unfavourable to Italian clubs, while England has taken the lead. The upcoming European matchdays will be decisive in determining whether Italy can still hope to secure that coveted extra ticket.
