Serie A Endure Almost Lethal Blow in UEFA Ranking

The chances of Serie A having a fifth Champions League representative next season through the UEFA ranking took a big hit in the playoffs due to the elimination of Juventus, Milan, and Atalanta. The results of the Europa League’s Round of 16 only increased La Liga’s advantage in second place. The Premier League is pretty much uncatchable, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

Roma eliminating a direct adversary was pivotal for the Italian championship to have a shot at mounting a comeback. Instead, the Giallorossi paid the price for Mats Hummels getting sent off after just 11 minutes. Athletic eventually prevailed 3-1 after losing narrowly at the Stadio Olimpico.

Serie A can count of just three teams in the cups going forward, Inter, Lazio, and Fiorentina, while La Liga on four, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Betis, and the Basques. The results in the Champions League have more weight this season.

The bout isn’t technically over, but the three remaining outfits would basically all have to go all the way to close the gap. Without a turnaround, only one between Juventus, Lazio, Bologna, Roma, Fiorentina, and Milan will qualify for the Champions League in the standard manner next season. Inter, Napoli, and Atalanta have built a nice cushion.

The Biancocelesti could do it also by taking home the Europa League. Absent that, the Italian championship will go back to having three sides in the second-tier continental cup, with one spot reserved for the Coppa Italia winners if they finish outside the top six. So far, Serie A has picked up 19,937 points in the UEFA ranking, while La Liga 21,678. The Premier League is clearly in the lead, having notched 24,250.

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