The 2024/25 European season is quickly approaching, with 236 clubs set to compete in UEFA’s continental club competitions this season.
With the first qualifying round draws occurring on Tuesday, Extratime Talk will be providing a comprehensive coefficient preview. Between now and then, each country will be previewed, and all clubs participating in Europe for the 2024/25 season are discussed.
In these articles, we will provide analyses of what to expect from each country in Europe. We will explore what is on the line from a coefficient standpoint, and the keys to succeeding, in that country’s case.
Article number 49 looks at Italy, and what we can expect from last season’s best performing nation in Europe.
Italy in Europe: Country Profile
| Previous Season Coefficient (Rank) | 20.714 (1st) |
| Previous Season’s 5-Year Coefficient (Rank) | 89.998 (2nd) |
| Starting 5-Year Coefficient (Rank) | 79.106 (2nd) |
It was another excellent season for Italy in Europe. For the second year running, all seven clubs made the knockout rounds. Although they lost all of their remaining Champions League teams in the round of 16, the sides in the Europa League, as well as Fiorentina in the Conference League, stepped up. A European champion and a finalist was more than enough to see Italy to finish top of the seasonal coefficient ranking.
As a reward, they will have a fifth team in the UCL, and eight in Europe overall. That could be advantageous, or it could be a disaster. What we do know though, is that Italy will be in the thick of it for a European Performance Spot for the second year running. Will all eight teams pass the league phase? If they do, it will put Italy in a wonderful position for an EPS.
Italy in Europe: Club Profile
| Club | Qualified As | Round of Entry | Total European Seasons | Last Season’s Performance | 5-Year Club Coefficient (2023/24) | 5-Year Country Coefficient Contribution, 2023/24 (%) |
| Internazionale | Domestic Champion | UCL League Phase | 58 | UCL Round of 16 | 101.000 | 14.429 (16%) |
| AC Milan | Domestic Runner-up | UCL League Phase | 51 | UEL Quarterfinals | 59.000 | 9.286 (10.3%) |
| Juventus | Domestic Third Place | UCL League Phase | 60 | N/A | 80.000 | 11.857 (13.2%) |
| Atalanta | UEL Titleholder | UCL League Phase | 11 | UEL winner | 79.000 | 11.857 (13.2%) |
| Bologna | Domestic Fifth Place | UCL League Phase | 11 | N/A | 18.056 | N/A |
| AS Roma | Domestic Sixth Place | UEL League Phase | 46 | UEL Semifinals | 101.000 | 15.286 (17%) |
| Lazio | Domestic Seventh Place | UEL League Phase | 30 | UCL Round of 16 | 54.000 | 8.286 (9.2%) |
| Fiorentina | Domestic Eighth Place | UECL Play-off Round | 33 | UECL Final | 42.000 | 6.929 (7.7%) |
For the second time in four years, Internazionale won the Scudetto. The Nerazzurri convincingly prevailed, finishing 19 points ahead of their rivals AC Milan. The only team Inter failed to beat in the league was Sassuolo, who beat them home and away. However, Simone Inzaghi’s side will want to improve on their European showing from last term, where they lost in the round of 16 to Atlético Madrid.
Milan finished second to their local rivals, in what was a season of disappointment for the Rossoneri. Being ousted from the Europa League quarterfinals by Roma, Milan went without a trophy for the second year running. The good thing for them is that they have partaken in a European quarterfinal in each of the last two years. As one of the five Italian teams in the Champions League proper, they will want to put an end to their 17-year wait to win the trophy again.
Juventus managed to hold on to third spot, winning the Coppa Italia to get a hand on some silverware. After missing out on the UCL last term, La Vechhia Signora will be back in Europe’s premier club competition next fall. Juve has not gotten past the round of 16 of the Champions League since 2018/19, and will strive for a better showing than their 2022/23 group stage.
Atalanta won the Europa League last term, which earned them a spot in the UCL proper. La Dea will be appearing in the competition for the fourth time. They made the quarterfinals in 2019/20, which was their debut year in the UCL. The Bergamaschi will be one to watch in the UCL next fall, as they pulled off some highly impressive results in the UEL en route to lifting their maiden continental trophy.
Bologna had an incredible 2023/24 season, surprising many Serie A fans by finishing fifth in the league. That will see them play in the UCL for the first time since 1964/65, when the competition was known as the European Cup. Their last continental showing was in 1999/2000, where they reached the third round of the UEFA Cup. Twice European semifinalists, Bologna will be an interesting watch in the UCL next fall.
AS Roma reached the Europa League semifinals for the third time in four seasons. That means the 2021/22 Conference League winners have made a continental semifinal in each of the last four campaigns. Their sixth place finish in the league will be seen as a disappointment, particularly considering how close they were to a top five finish. Nevertheless, the Giallorossi will be one of the favourites in the UEL.
Lazio will be joining their Derbi della Capitale rivals in the UEL next term after finishing seventh. They have reached the knockout rounds in Europe four years on the spin, but never progressed beyond in the round of 16 on any occasion. The Biancocelesti will need to pick up the slack, as they have seldom impressed in Europe of late.
For the third consecutive year, Fiorentina will be the country’s UECL representative. La Viola reached the Conference League final in each of the last two seasons, only to fall the final hurdle both times. The Tuscans will be hoping that third time is the charm. But first they will have to successfully negotiate the playoff round in late August. Making the competition’s showpiece for a third straight year will be quite the challenge.
Italy’s Season Ambition
For Italy, the aim will be a place in the top two of the seasonal coefficient ranking. They have finished in the top two in each of the last two years, collecting over 20.000 points each campaign. With eight teams in Europe, it will be more challenging than the previous two years. Italy has not had eight sides in UEFA club competitions since the 2008/09 – the days of the UEFA Cup – so it will be an adjustment.
Italy should also be aiming for at least 20.000 points again. Due to the new formats and available coefficient points, around 22.000 would be a reasonable goal for the country. Achieve that number, and a top two spot looks quite likely once again for Italian football.
What a Successful Season Would Look Like for Italy
The last two years set the bar high for the Italian clubs going into the 2024/25 season. A successful year for Italy would have to be having another European Performance Spot at season’s end. Also, after seeing their seven teams making the knockout rounds in back-to-back seasons, a continuation of that would be seen as an impressive feat.
With respect to the coefficients, Italy should see anything above 20.000 points as a successful year, while a total below that should be seen as a failure. As previously mentioned, the standard is higher now for Italian clubs after two years of immense success. So, they will have to continue the impressive performances in Europe.
What to Expect From Italy in 2024/25
Can we expect Italy to finish in the top two of the coefficient ranking for the third year running? It certainly feels possible. We should not be surprised if we see three or four Italian teams in the semifinals again. The last two years have shown that the Serie A teams in Europe are back, and could very well be here to stay.
Speaking to Italian football expert Carlo Garganese, we should be careful with our expectations of Italy’s European representatives for next season. “I’d say that right now it’s a little bit early to say because we’re at the start of the transfer window,” said Garganese when asked about Italy’s chances of mimicking the success of the last two years.
“It depends also on what you consider to be a success of the Italian teams. If you expect them to go deep in the Champions League, win the Champions League, then we have to say that it’s a little bit of a longshot given that they’re financially weaker than the Premier League, than Real Madrid. Then I think it will be difficult.” carlo garganese
As to what will be key for the Italian coefficient next season, the broadcaster and writer highlighted the Champions League performances. “I think it comes down to Inter, Milan, Juventus and Atalanta to going deep in the Champions League to rack up the points needed,” Garganese said. Though, he did not forget about the other competitions. “A lot will also depend also on how Lazio and Roma do in the Europa League and how Fiorentina does in the Conference League.“
Overall, we should be expecting a continuation of the success from the Italian teams in Europe. Will we see the country have multiple teams in a European final for the third successive year? It is more than possible, but as Garganese pointed out, it is not so straightforward. There should be reason for confidence, but it will be up to the eight clubs to show the best of Italian football and prove that calcio is back.