Italian football is facing a crisis as this season marks the second consecutive year where only Atalanta remains in the Champions League Round of 16 from Serie A. The situation underscores a worrying trend with no Italian teams making it to the top eight, prompting Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Atalanta to go through qualifying playoffs to reach the knockout stages. This ongoing decline raises concerns about the competitiveness of Italian clubs in prestigious European tournaments.

In a remarkable feat, Atalanta managed to overturn a 2-0 deficit from their first leg against Borussia Dortmund, securing a place in the next round of the Champions League. This highlights Atalanta's resilience in stark contrast to the early exits of traditional powerhouses like Juventus and Inter Milan, both of whom failed to make it past the playoffs. Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, also fell short earlier in the competition, finishing poorly in the group stage.

The disheartening performances of these teams cast a shadow over the future of Italian football. With legendary clubs like Juventus and Inter struggling domestically and in Europe, the concerns of a growing gap between Serie A clubs and their European counterparts become increasingly pronounced. The ongoing challenges suggest that without significant transformations, Italian football could continue to struggle on the international stage, raising questions about the overall health and direction of the league.