In the Champions League 1st Round Elimination Matches.
Galatasaray 5 - 2 Juventus
Bodo Glimt 3 - 1 Internazional
I reckon some Italian Sports fans are getting Norwegian Nightmares these days!
Norway walloped The Azzurri Twice in the World Cup Qualifiers,meaning Italy have to get to the Big Event via the back door again,to avoid missing out a 3rd consecutive time.
Unthinkable!
The Norwegians lead the Medal Count at the Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics.Italy are 2nd.
And now last night,but that’s probably restricted to Inter fans.
It won’t be as easy as before to claw the deficit back,as the Away Goals Rule doesn’t exist anymore.So Juve and Inter need to Win by a Clear 4 and 3 Goals respectively to get out of Gaol here!
Inter are OUT of the Champions League,having LOST 1 - 2 at Home to Bodø/Glimt.
That was despite having 70% of General Play,33 shots on Goal,with only 6 on Target.
Bodo were more clinical with 5 shots on target from 7 attempts,but more importantly 2 in the back of the net.
It’s another embarrassing exit for a great Club like Inter and one they’ll need to address,if they wish to go to the Summit in Europe’s Biggest Stage.
They should bring home the Scudetto with a 14 point lead,with 12 games to go,but they’ll know some Urgent Fine Tuning is required,one Level of Football up!
To be Fair,the 2022/23 Title is pending,for eventually City,or rather the ownership will pay for their Sins,when all their Titles over a long period of time are STRIPPED OFF them,giving Inter a 4th Title in Europe.
Mind you,UEFA STILL haven’t STRIPPED Marseille of their Title for their Sins.
Inter’s Rivals Milan should an 8th CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TROPHY!
Juve are OUT!
They got to a 3 - 0 lead back home,to tie the Aggregate to 5 - 5.
But a Sending off(controversial,but I haven’t read into it yet),made things difficult to apply the killer blow and as a Result,Galatasaray found the back of the net twice,meaning they progress 7 - 5.
Are there any Italian Clubs left?
Yes there is!
Atalanta
Surprise Packets?Traditionally,Yes!Recently,No!
They’ve been very competitive over the past few years,without the Big Trophy to show for it!
But in brushing Borossia Dortmund aside 4 - 1,they proved they are a Legitimate threat as anyone,in pursuing Champions League Success!
Big Test of Nerves over the coming week,having to play 2 games to qualify for the FIFA World Cup,or else miss Qualifying for a 3rd Consecutive Time.
Unthinkable it happens once,terrible a 2nd time.An ABSOLUTE CALAMITY a 3rd straight time,regardless of World Events right now,….
1st,Northern Ireland tonight or tomorrow morning,………
Oh Dear!
The once mighty Azzurri didn’t make it,after fluffing the dreaded Penalty Shootout 4 - 1,after drawing away to Bosnia-Herzagovnia 1 - 1.
Started off ok,taking an early lead.But a Red Card in the 42nd minute,put them on a slippery slope and out they went,failing to qualify for a 3rd consecutive time!
Disastrous outcome for Italian Football.