Inter Knocked Out, Can Juventus and Atalanta Save Italy's Face in Champions League? (Terjemahan langsung: "Inter Tersingkir, Mampukah Juventus dan Atalanta Selamatkan Wajah Italia di Liga Champions?")

Serie A's hopes in the 2025/2026 Champions League now hinge on two do-or-die matches. Following Inter Milan's official elimination, Italy's two remaining representatives, Juventus and Atalanta, face the tough mission of overturning aggregate deficits in the second legs of the playoff round.

Inter Milan's exit and the challenging task for Juventus and Atalanta to reverse their situations have significantly diminished Serie A's chances of advancing representatives to the knockout phase.

This situation sounds a loud alarm for Italian Football, which has been striving to regain competitiveness on the European stage in recent seasons.

Previously, another Italian representative, defending Serie A champions Napoli, had already been eliminated during the league phase.

Inter Marks the Beginning of the Decline

Signs of Inter's collapse emerged during their visit to Aspmyra Stadion, home of Bodo/Glimt, in the first leg on Thursday, February 19, 2026 (WIB). Unexpectedly, the favored Nerazzurri fell 1-3 to the hosts.

With that defeat, Inter needed a three-goal victory margin in the second leg to advance. However, they instead suffered a 1-2 loss at Giuseppe Meazza. This defeat confirmed their premature exit, earlier than most predictions.

Inter's elimination with a 2-5 aggregate score casts a shadow over Italy's two remaining representatives who now stand on the brink.

Juventus Requires Four Goals

Facing a three-goal deficit, Juventus needs a near-perfect performance in Turin to overturn their situation after a crushing 2-5 first-leg loss at Galatasaray's Rams Park on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Bianconeri must win by four clear goals to secure automatic qualification to the Round of 16. Pressure will accompany them despite playing at home.

Atalanta Needs Three Goals

Meanwhile, Atalanta faces an equally daunting challenge. In the first leg, La Dea fell 0-2 at the home of German representatives Borussia Dortmund.

With a two-goal deficit, La Dea must work extra hard to keep their Round of 16 dreams alive. Atalanta must win by three goals to advance.

Serie A on the Brink

This series of negative results places Italian football in critical condition. The two remaining Champions League representatives face immense pressure to overturn aggregate deficits in their second legs.

The second legs will determine their fate. Should they fail to rally, Serie A will lose all its representatives before the official start of the Round of 16.

A decisive night awaits. For Juventus and Atalanta, this isn't just about matches – it's about the pride of Italian football.