Hello soccer fans of the world! This is my first blog so forgive me if it's a little different to what you're used to but here goes.
This week has seen two Italian clubs exit at a fairly early stage from the world's most prestigous club competition, the UEFA Champions League. One of those clubs, Roma lost their first match 3-2 at home to one of the competition's less favoured teams, Shakhtar Donetsk. As mesmorising as Shakhtar were on the night, Roma were terrible in what was a nearly empty, Stadio Olimpico. The following night, AC Milan were humilaited in front of their own fans against an injury-stricken Tottenham Hotspur, who probably could have won more than 1-0. The week after Roma and AC Milan lost their first leg matches, the trophy's holders Inter Milan were beaten 1-0 by Bayern Munich at the San Siro.
This week, both Milan and Roma had uphill tasks when they travelled away to both London and Donetsk respectively. Roma needed to win by at least two goals or if they required away goals win 4-3. After an impressive start by Vincenzo Montella's team (Montella took over from Claudio Ranieri after the first game) Shakhtar comfortably ran out 3-0 winners to knock Roma out. On Wednesday, Italian league leaders Milan simply could'nt find a way past the Premier league's 5th place Spurs' defence and they crashed out. But is that how big the gap between Europe's top leagues and Italy's Serie A is? So big, that an EPL team that may not even be in the UCL next year can beat the best team in Italy? Certainly a long way away from one of my earliest footballing memories when I was six when AC Milan beat fellow Italians Juventus in the 2003 Champions league final. Inter Milan will be considered as the underdogs when they travel to Munich next week and may be playing for Italian football's pride aswell as their own.
What are your opinions on Italian football? Give your answers in the comment section below!
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