"These were supposed to be the weeks when Milan held the upper hand over their Serie A rivals, granted six days to prepare for a home game against bottom-half opposition while the likes of Inter, Juventus and Atalanta dragged themselves back exhausted from European away trips. Demoralised, too, after losing to Bod/Glimt, Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund by a combined 10 goals to three. It was a grim week for Italian football, the sort that provokes another round of sad think-pieces about whether the nation's teams will ever again be competitive in the continent's biggest tournament."
"All three Champions League representatives are capable of better than they delivered and deserve to be called out on the specifics. Bod exposed the same defensive frailty that Inter have shown repeatedly in head-to-head games against their strongest domestic competitors. It would be oversimplifying things to suggest their continued reliance on a 38-year-old Francesco Acerbi and a 37-year-old Yann Sommer tells a story, but it is certainly a relevant part of the narrative. They lead Serie A because they are strong enough going forwards to make sure that lesser sides never lay a glove on them."
Milan benefited from extended preparation while rivals returned fatigued from European away matches. Several Italian teams endured heavy European defeats, including losses by a combined 10–3 to Bod/Glimt, Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund. Serie A's commercial decline and difficulty matching Europe’s elite remain evident, though one club reached the continental final twice in three seasons. All three Champions League representatives underperformed and require specific critique. Bod highlighted recurring defensive weaknesses at Inter. Dependence on veteran players Francesco Acerbi and Yann Sommer is a notable factor. Inter compensate with attacking strength to dominate lesser domestic sides, and Milan have won several high-profile matches.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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