Italian clubs dominate European competition

Javier Guillén ITALY REIGN IN EUROPE Six Serie A clubs have made it to the quarter finals of UEFA's top competitions

[{"selector":"#anim-15e9c72d-99e6-46ab-927f-6d06e75c0160","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d55a279-4142-4229-89c3-bae36ee5f47f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-9.85795430187417%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] The Premier League and LaLiga normally dominate this stage in numbers but only three English and one Spanish club remain.

[{"selector":"#anim-b1069edd-9342-470b-a21f-3c112cd65d3f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9f6e911-238a-461c-8fd9-d1a8713aa8ca [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, -11.261146446708006%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Serie A still have three teams alive in the Champions League: Napoli, Milan and Inter. The last time that happened was in the 2005/06 campaign.

[{"selector":"#anim-59cac65f-3e08-49e9-8117-8f938f407aba","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab17b3cc-1934-4405-a683-1818cf5e11e7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.85795430187417%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Roma and Juventus still have hopes of lifting the Europa League. Not since the 2015 season were there two Italian teams in the quarterfinals.

[{"selector":"#anim-6a607519-01aa-4257-9153-b0462ec721a6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-610b7ccf-00ee-4be6-906e-6307ebc12547 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-9.943181575118597%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] In the Conference League, Fiorentina remain and look to follow in the footsteps of Roma who won last year's inaugural competition.

[{"selector":"#anim-99e39575-7f3e-425b-aef0-3f27f085e279","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffee2c6f-3788-4f9c-8b55-0f9ce1fbced3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.838453146131796%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Napoli are the standout team, despite it being their first UCL quarterfinal. Sitting 19 points clear of Lazio at the top of Serie A, an amazing double is on.

[{"selector":"#anim-13516017-152d-421a-84f1-f08f1a9ae28e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2617e96-ca02-460d-9690-48d294ffa84a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen are key elements. The Nigerian has 25 goals this season and the Georgian has contributed 30, including assists.

[{"selector":"#anim-519ff923-44da-4502-97af-23521e4be607","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-563be597-15ee-47f7-b636-f91ac88030cf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 7.760782355151471e-15%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Milan sit fourth in the league on 48 points and haven't been to this stage in Europe since 2011. Theo Hernandez and Leao are shining stars.

[{"selector":"#anim-da470faa-46fa-4197-a59a-b131bcfa37a1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-755ba363-ebf5-4ae7-9ddb-553bf6a1046e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(9.957993495385853%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Napoli and Milan have never met in European competition. Their last encounter came in Seria A where Napoli won 1-2 on Matchday 7.

[{"selector":"#anim-439782a5-d4a2-4f2b-915b-742f2939dbb6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-326fd197-3d2c-4d74-991e-799a8164a2f1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 7.760782355151471e-15%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Inter reach this stage for the first time since 2011. Onana is a vital part of the success, currently the goalkeeper with the most (37) saves in the competition.

[{"selector":"#anim-bd861662-e7cf-4570-9487-9fd219fbd2c5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 196.90347%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f5799f3-de98-4541-9777-929cd8ba8b6a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 7.760782355151471e-15%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Juventus last played in the Europa League back in 2014. It's been a tough year, now sitting in seventh in the league, something not seen since 2011.

[{"selector":"#anim-57a6aba8-4a42-42da-a88b-d11e86abf5d3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f571214a-682d-4924-bb20-9ad6a19c439a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 3.3106337062916755%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Roma last got here in 2018. Dybala is the main man with 13 goals and 8 assists in 29 games but they've gone three without a win.

[{"selector":"#anim-eda997c5-0bad-4067-a2af-4d86adc38598","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 172.31330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7d21855-4b0d-4b8c-beb6-5828639366a4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(13.93209997226004%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":6000,"fill":"both"}] Since 2017, Fiorentina haven't played in Europe. They lie in ninth place in the league and are striving to win silverware after 26 years.

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