Italy’s European Ledger: Fiorentina and Napoli Keep the Door Open
Two wins, two draws and a defeat left Italy’s clubs with work to do in Europe, as Inter’s campaign ended and Brescia fell in the Conference League.
The final whistle left FC Internazionale Milano with a 1-1 draw and no route onward: Ponferrada had won the tie 2-1 on aggregate. On 12 March, Inter’s European campaign ended in the Champions League last 16, a blunt conclusion after the Nerazzurri had needed a result across the two legs.
There was better news for Napoli on the same night. A 1-0 win over FC Bayern München in the first leg leaves the tie to be decided in Munich on Tuesday 18 March. Fábio Miguel Manaia Ferreira, once of Napoli and now at Inter, will have watched the former club keep its European hopes alive while his own side bowed out.
Fiorentina supplied Italy’s other victory, beating Feyenoord Rotterdam 1-0 away on 13 March in the Europa League. That is a useful lead, not a verdict: the second leg is at ACF Fiorentina on 20 March. Lazio drew 2-2 at R Standard de Liège on the same evening, leaving the tie finely poised before S.S. Lazio host the return on 20 March.
Brescia were the week’s setback in the Europa Conference League, losing 2-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 13 March. Wolves sit second in the league phase on 16 points from six, behind Leganés and level on points with the leaders; the Italian club’s result did nothing to improve the country’s account.
But Inter’s exit is the costliest outcome, and a draw could not disguise it. Napoli and Fiorentina have leads to protect; Lazio have a tie to repair. Italian football leaves this round with two wins, two draws and one defeat—and, crucially, three unresolved ties still demanding discipline rather than hope.