Italy's Champions League start has brought four points from eight matches, with only one win so far. Como are the only Italian club to have won, and that alone has kept the opening round of fixtures from looking even worse.
Como's lone win and Italy's slow start
Como's victory came on matchday one against Red Bull Leipzig, and Cesc's side are the only Italian team to have taken three points. They sit 12th in the UEFA Champions League standings with three points from two matches, which is a healthier position than the rest of Italy can point to right now.
The wider return tells the story of the start better than any one result. Italian clubs have played eight Champions League matches and won one of them. Inter have zero points from two games and are 29th, AS Roma have one point and are 25th, while Napoli have zero points and sit 32nd.
Quick tests for Inter, Roma and Napoli
Inter's defeat against Club Brugge KV at the Meazza was described by Cristian Chivu as hard because of the four goals conceded and the feeling of defensive fragility. Roma's draw in Türkiye against Fenerbahçe was acceptable, but the collapse after going 3-1 up against Real Madrid turned their second matchday into a costly one. Massimiliano Allegri said Napoli are also going through difficult moments and are not quite getting going.
The response chances arrive almost immediately. Roma host Slovan Bratislava on 2026-10-20 at 19:00 UTC, Napoli host Bodo/Glimt at the same time, and Inter are at home to Shakhtar Donetsk on 2026-10-21 at 19:00 UTC. Como's next test is also at home, against Manchester United on 2026-10-21 at 16:45 UTC, and that is the sort of fixture that can turn an early bright spot into a better Italian platform.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
