Despite losing 10 league games already this season, AC Milan remain embroiled in a nine-team battle for the European spots.
With Inter and Napoli fighting for the Scudetto and now almost certain of qualifying for the next Champions League (where Italy will have four teams), Sky writes that there are still four spots available for the 2025-26 European competitions.
The fight, to date, involves seven clubs, from third place Atalanta (on 65 points) to ninth place Milan (on 54 points). An added point of interest is that the Rossoneri could win the Coppa Italia and get a Europa League spot.
For the 2025-26 season, Italy has the right to have seven teams participate in the European competitions. The criteria is as follows:
➤ From 1st to 4th place in the league – direct qualification for the Champions League;
➤ 5th place in the league and winner of the Coppa Italia – direct qualification for the Europa League;
➤ 6th place in the league – qualification for the Conference League play-offs.
If Milan win the Coppa Italia while remaining 9th in the standings (or even 8th or 7th), the scenario above would be in play. If, however, the winner of the Coppa Italia has already qualified for Europe through the league, the criterion changes as follows:
➤ From 1st to 4th place in the league – direct qualification for the Champions League;
➤ 5th and 6th place in the league – direct qualification for the Europa League;
➤ 7th place in the league – qualification for the Conference League playoffs.
Italy’s chances of getting a 5th place in the Champions League through the league coefficient ranking have vanished: it is now arithmetic that it will be England and Spain who get them.
However, if Fiorentina were to go on and win the Conference League, La Viola will enter the Europa League without having to ensure that they finish 5th.
We can also take a look at the remaining fixtures for the sides that are in the hunt, with some head-to-head games coming up that could decide a lot.
➤ Atalanta: Monza (A), Roma (H), Genoa (A), Parma (H).
➤ Bologna: Udinese (A), Juventus (H), Milan (A), Fiorentina (A), Genoa (H).
➤ Juventus: Bologna (A), Lazio (A), Udinese (H), Venezia (A).
➤ Lazio: Parma (H), Empoli (A), Juventus (H), Inter (A), Lecce (H).
➤ Roma: Fiorentina (H), Atalanta (A), Milan (H), Torino (A).
➤ Fiorentina: Roma (A), Venezia (A), Bologna (H), Udinese (A).
➤ Milan: Genoa (A), Bologna (H), Roma (A), Monza (H).
