The Italian Job: Serie A's rise back to the top of European football
Inter, Roma and Fiorentina are flying the flag for Italy in three European finals.
The birth of Britpop, Nelson Mandela becoming president of South Africa and Roberto Baggio’s penalty miss in the World Cup final.
Twenty-nine years have ticked by since 1994, which also saw three Italian clubs reach separate major European finals in one season.
While Milan and Inter won the Champions League and UEFA Cup respectively, Parma were overcome by Arsenal in the Cup Winners’ Cup final.
In 2023, it’s Inter, Roma and Fiorentina spearheading a Calcio revival on the continental stage.
Fiorentina, Coppa Italia runners-up to Inter, will face in West Ham in the Europa Conference League final on June 7. On Wednesday, Roma – winners of the inaugural Conference League last season – will go up against Sevilla in the Europa League final.
To cap off the 2022-23 European season, Inter take on the might of Manchester City in Istanbul, with the Champions League on the line.
Ahead of their showpiece outings, we looked at how that trio has led Italy’s continental comeback.
Europa Conference League: Fiorentina
None of these finalists have set Serie A alight this term.
While Inter and Roma have been embroiled in the top-four fight, Fiorentina could yet finish in the bottom half after cracking the top seven last season.
Inconsistency has cost them in Serie A, but runs to the finals of the Europa Conference League and Coppa Italia – in which they lost 2-1 to Inter – have thrilled a success-starved fanbase.
Looking to end a 22-year major trophy drought, Fiorentina will likely approach their final proactively. Attack has been their best form of defence; their astonishing return of 36 goals in 14 European outings is nine more than fellow finalists West Ham and just 14 short of their tally in Serie A.
No player has bettered Arthur Cabral’s seven Europa Conference League goals this term, while Cristiano Biraghi and Christian Kouame lead the assist charts with five apiece.
Against resolute final opponents, Vincenzo Italiano’s high-pressing Viola, who are appearing in a first European showpiece match since 1990, will hope their un-Italian approach pays off.
Fiorentina’s route to the final:
Group A: 2nd
Play-offs: Braga (7-2 agg)
L16: Sivasspor (5-1 agg)
QF: Lech Poznan (6-4 agg)
SF: Basel (4-3 agg)
Europa League: Roma
Jose Mourinho led the last two Italian teams to lift European silverware (Inter in the 2009-10 Champions League and Roma in last year’s Europa Conference League), and few would bet against ‘The Special One’ adding another trophy to his vast collection this month.
Mourinho’s Roma have fallen short of a top-four league finish, but back-to-back European successes would atone for that, and of course get them into the Champions League anyway.
Despite Tammy Abraham struggling in front of goal and Paulo Dybala’s niggling injuries, Mourinho has found a way to grind out results in Europe, fuelled by a frenzied atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma have won six of their seven home European knockout-stage games under Mourinho (D1), only conceding twice. The Giallorossi must conjure the spirit of Rome against six-time winners Sevilla in Budapest, having frustrated Bayer Leverkusen in typical Mourinho fashion in the semi-finals, facing 23 shots in a goalless second leg.
Roma’s counter-attacking style certainly served them well against Feyenoord last year, when they recorded just 36 percent possession in a 1-0 win that clinched the Conference League title.
Mourinho celebrated that victory with a tattoo detailing his European exploits. If Roma can repeat the trick, he may need to find more space.
Roma’s route to the final:
Group C: 2nd
Play-offs: Salzburg (2-1 agg)
L16: Real Sociedad (2-0 agg)
QF: Feyenoord (4-2 agg)
SF: Bayer Leverkusen (1-0 agg)
Champions League: Inter
Simone Inzaghi’s reputation as a knockout football maestro has only been enhanced this campaign. Inter have found themselves scrambling for a top-four finish in Serie A, but in high-pressure knockout ties, Inzaghi – a six-time Coppa Italia winner as a player and coach – has nailed the formula.
Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana triumphs demonstrated Inter’s big-game nous, with the dependable Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni anchoring their 3-5-2 system.
Inter, who last reached Europe’s biggest club final in 2010, when they edged out Bayern Munich, have certainly mastered controlling tight affairs – they have not trailed in their six knockout-stage Champions League games this season, recording five clean sheets.
The Nerazzurri are comfortable when soaking up pressure, leading the Champions League charts for recoveries (461), tackles won (83), and clearances (286) this term, while only Roma and Napoli have allowed opponents to accumulate fewer xG in Serie A this term (Opta stats via fbref.com).
Inter also boast genuine game-changers, with Lautaro Martinez enjoying his most prolific campaign at the club with 28 goals, including three across the Suppercoppa and Coppa finals.
Inter are sure to face severe City pressure in Istanbul, but if any team can do a job on Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled machine, it may be them.
Inter’s route to the final:
Group C: 2nd
L16: Porto (1-0 agg)
QF: Benfica (5-3 agg)
SF: Milan (3-0 agg)
By Harry Carr, MTAG contributor