📉 Champions League flop: Italian sides trail top clubs 😥 | OneFootball

The first round of the Champions League, exceptionally spread over 3 days to enhance the level of the tournament, has ended. It's time for a balance sheet for the 4 Italian clubs, which collectively gathered 4 points out of the available 12.

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If the defeats of Napoli and Atalanta were predictable as well as the good success of Inter, there remains a small disappointment for the pyrotechnic draw of Juventus with Borussia Dortmund. Against top-tier clubs, only one point was achieved in 3 games, too little to compete at the highest levels.

Let's analyze games and results in detail.

Juventus in chiaroscuro

The bianconeri confirm everything they had shown against Inter with Borussia Dortmund. The defensive phase leaves a lot to be desired and Di Gregorio shows signs of insecurity. However, Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz come out with an unthinkable aura.

The striker proves he can challenge Jonathan David for a starting spot, the Turkish star instead scores a goal à la Alex Del Piero with the 10 of the historic captain. Igor Tudor can enjoy a sparkling offensive phase and an enviable mentality with another game grasped in the end. However, he will have to find defensive countermeasures.

Atalanta to reset

The Bergamo team had accustomed us to making life very hard for the big teams all over Europe, the first post-Gasperini is a defeat. PSG is the strongest team in Europe, but Atalanta never gave the impression of being able to fight and stay on the field adequately.

Ivan Juric understandably appeals to the absences (Lookman is back, but Scalvini and De Ketelaere are to be evaluated), but he will have to work differently on the players available. The idea of ​​fielding Maldini as the first striker at Parc des Princes was quite bizarre.

Inter is still a top

Juve photocopy in all respects to the Derby d'Italia, among the nerazzurri only Marcus Thuram repeats. Another two headed goals by a devilish Marcus Thuram, who travels at a rate higher than a goal per game. Ajax proved to be a light opponent, but the attitude was positive.

Excellent debut of Pio Esposito in Champions, great feelings from the starters and good feelings looking at the depth of the bench. The start is right, the desire to stay at the top even with Cristian Chivu on the bench has a first positive feedback on the field.

Napoli, what a pity

It's hard to comment on a game played in 10 for 70 minutes against a team at the top of world football for a decade like Manchester City. What is positive is the attitude not only defensive, but also and above all psychological. The team is with Antonio Conte.

First a staunch resistance, then even after the double disadvantage stands out the great ability to stay in the game without disunity. The English understand it and do not try to gloat. The bitterness remains, but the certainty that they will play to the maximum until the end in all 4 seasonal competitions also.

An overall balance

Once again the Italians fail to hold the blow, for one reason or another, in the presence of the strongest. Inter continues to battle to stay at the top, while Juventus is to be interpreted.

Borussia is historically a tough opponent, but to secure a good position and perhaps also seek direct access to the round of 16 these types of games must be won. To compete in Europe, another step needs to be climbed that is not only technical, but also attitudinal. Red to Di Lorenzo in City-Napoli teaches. To get to the end, much more will be needed.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 FRANCK FIFE - AFP or licensors