It was an historic week for Italian soccer in Europe, but for all the wrong reasons: every single one of the four Italian Champions League teams lost their second game of the league phase. This isn’t just a bad week, folks, this is the first time in history that all four Italian teams lost on the same Champions League matchday. Yeah, you read that right. History.
Inter Got Smoked, Roma Blew It, and Nobody’s Safe
Seriously, what in the world happened? Inter, the team leading Serie A, got absolutely embarrassed, conceding four goals and losing to Club Brugge at San Siro. Four-nil! That’s a gut punch no league leader wants to take, especially at home. Then you’ve got AS Roma, led by Jose Mourinho, who were up 3-1 against Real Madrid with just 10 minutes to go at the Stadio Olimpico. You know where this is going, don’t you? They gave up three goals and lost 4-3. You can’t make this stuff up. Napoli and Como also got tagged with losses, so the only Italian teams celebrating wins this week were Juventus, AC Milan, and Atalanta, but they were slumming it in the Europa League and Conference League. This just feels different when it’s the big one.
The Clock’s Ticking For Inter, and Marcus Thuram Is The Guy
Now, Inter coach Cristian Chivu has a mess on his hands, and they need to bounce back immediately when they visit Bologna on Saturday. The biggest blow? Captain Lautaro Martinez is out for at least three weeks with a muscular injury he picked up after that Champions League game. He won’t be back until after the November international break, which means he’s also missing the Derby della Madonnina against AC Milan on October 31. That’s huge. With Martinez sidelined, Inter’s going to rely heavily on their other strikers: Marcus Thuram, Ange-Yoan Bonny, and Francesco Pio Esposito. And let’s be real, the spotlight’s squarely on Thuram. The French international has to step up, no question. It won’t be easy, but he’s got to make it happen if Inter wants to keep their top spot.
Serie A Matchday 7: Every Game Is a Must-Win
This disaster in Europe means Serie A Matchweek 7 is going to be absolutely wild because every Italian team needs a reaction. The biggest game on the docket? Juventus vs. Lazio at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. Lazio has been the shocker of the season so far, sitting level with Inter at the top of the standings with 16 points from five wins and a draw in six games. Gennaro Gattuso’s team has been consistently delivering, even with their fans boycotting home games in a beef with club owner Claudio Lotito. Meanwhile, Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire this season, with three wins, two draws, and a defeat in their first six. They drew at Cagliari last weekend, so they’re looking to react too. It’s going to be a battle. Inter’s got a challenging away game against Bologna, and even Como, after their own European heartbreak, has to face whatever comes next in the league. This weekend isn’t just about points, it’s about pride and proving that last week was just a historic, terrible blip, not the start of a downfall.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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