Four Italian clubs suffered four defeats in the same Champions League round for the first time ever. Napoli, Inter, AS Roma and Como all came away empty-handed, even though Italy's representatives scored nine goals across the four games and conceded 14.
The scale of the damage
The round was bad in a way that went beyond one poor result. Napoli lost 1:3 in Villarreal after a defensive error brought the Spanish hosts back into the game, Inter went down 3:4 at home against Club Brugge KV, and Como lost 2:3 at Feyenoord after Assane Diao had given them an early lead.
Massimiliano Allegri's reading of Napoli's defeat fits the night as a whole. Speaking to SPORT1 in comments translated from German, he said: "The level in the Champions League is higher. When you play against medium and small teams, you don't notice it, but in the Champions League you do notice it."
Roma's collapse stung most
Roma's loss was the one that will bother them most. They were already leading 3:1 after a brace from Donyell Malen, then conceded three goals within eight minutes to lose the match.
The standings are ugly for Roma and Napoli already. Roma have only one point from two Champions League matches, while Napoli have lost both of theirs and have yet to get off the mark. Napoli have also conceded four goals in two Champions League matches.
On a night like this, the history matters because it is so rare. Four Italian clubs losing in the same Champions League round for the first time is a bad mark for the league, and the raw totals are hard to shrug off: 14 goals conceded, nine scored, zero points.
FAQ
Was this the first time four Italian clubs lost in the same Champions League round?
Yes. Four Italian clubs suffered four defeats in the same Champions League round for the first time ever. Napoli, Inter, Como and Roma all lost on the same night, and Italy's representatives still scored nine goals across the four games but took no points.
How badly did Italy's Champions League clubs perform on the night?
Italy's representatives conceded 14 goals across the four defeats and scored nine, yet still failed to take a single point. That included Roma leading 3:1 before conceding three goals within eight minutes, and Napoli losing 1:3 in Villarreal after a defensive error brought the hosts back in.
Why is Roma's defeat being seen as the most painful?
Roma were already leading 3:1 after a brace from Donyell Malen, then conceded three goals within eight minutes to lose the match. They now have one point from two Champions League matches.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
