Some already call it the “Italian League”. Obviously we are not talking about the Champions League but about the younger sister, that Europa League which, since 2009, has replaced the old (and much more glorious) UEFA Cup. After being snubbed for years (the last success dates back to 1999 at the hands of Parma) the tournament in question seems to tease the Italian clubs again. Fiorentina, Inter, Naples, Turin: all the participants qualified for the round of 15. To these was added Roma, who finished third in the Champions League group and therefore automatically relegated to the Europa League. This, to be honest, should pain us (remember that Napoli could also have participated in the "big ears cup"), instead it even makes us smile. In fact, no country will present itself at the draw in Nyon (Monday, 8 pm) with so many teams in contention: England, Spain and Germany will total 27. It is fair to say that the biggest obstacles towards the final in Warsaw (2015 May 2015) will come from them but also that, deep down, no opponent can really scare us. The English Tottenham, Everton and Liverpool, the Spanish Athletic Bilbao, Villarreal and Sevilla, the German Borussia Moenchengladbach and Wolfsburg are difficult but not insurmountable. This is why, this year more than ever, we can hope for an Italian redemption which, it should be remembered, would give us one more team for the 16/XNUMX Champions League (provided that the eventual winner does not finish in the top three in championship). Woe to us, however, to feel safe: now the Europa League will become very different from the soft version of the group stage. In any case, satisfaction is high also because, after years of disappointments, Italy is finally collecting points in the Ranking. Fourth place (both in absolute terms and seasonally) is a sign of growth, not decline: keeping behind us treacherous countries such as Portugal, France and Russia is the best we can do, given the (technical and economic) unattainability of the monsters sacred England, Spain and Germany.
Here, speaking of these nations it is mandatory to return to the Champions League and here our enthusiasm melts like snow in the sun. Of the three who qualified last season, only Juventus is still in the running, moreover as runners-up. The journey of those in front of us is quite different: the English and Spanish have brought three teams each to the round of 04 (Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid), Germany even four (Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Schalke 8 and Bayer Leverkusen). In short, in the main event in Nyon we will almost be intruders, moreover with our fingers crossed. Juve's second place brings a rather high risk in the draw phase. The bianconeri could meet one of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea, not the best for those hoping to enter the top XNUMX. Better to hope for Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Porto, without however considering them affordable teams (which in fact they are not).
