After every Champions League matchday, theScore highlights 10 marquee takeaways from Europe’s preeminent club competition.
Inter’s failure for the best?
Inter Milan and Antonio Conte may have accidentally stumbled into an ideal situation, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now. The Nerazzurri, handed a golden opportunity to reach the knockout stage Tuesday, imploded against Barcelona‘s reserve side, falling 2-1 at home in a match they needed to win. That allowed Borussia Dortmund to squeak through at Inter’s expense, relegating Conte’s men back to the Europa League.
Perhaps it’s for the best, though?
With Juventus still stuttering as they struggle to adapt to Maurizio Sarri’s system, Inter, who lead Serie A by two points, have a legitimate chance at ending the Old Lady’s long reign atop Italian football. Should Conte decide to punt on the Europa League and afford his key players some rest during midweek matches, it could prove crucial down the stretch of the domestic season, assuming Juve are mired in the Champions League grind well after the calendar flips over.
Missing out on the influx of cash that comes with knockout-stage participation will sting, but if Inter parlay this …read more