Champions League draw: Inter Atletico, Napoli – Barcelona, ​​Lazio – Bayern. Europa League: Roma-Feyenoord and Milan-Rennes

I’m excited for the Italians participating in the European Cups who will get to know their opponents in the first round of the direct elimination phase tomorrow. From 12 referees, a draw in Nyon for the round of 16 Champions League Which involves Inter, Lazio H Naples, the three are in the second layer. Below is the playoff European Leaguewhich affects Rome, Atalanta And the Milan Relegated from the Champions League.

Given that at this stage of the tournament, the so-called easy teams are a rare commodity, a strong risk for the three Serie A representatives in the richest and most important tournament is to meet with the top seeds such as Manchester City or Bayern Munich. , who loom over their heads, as well as the always treacherous Barcelona.

In fact, taking into account that in the round of 16 clubs from the same association cannot face each other, nor have the opponents already met in the group stage, the remaining potential pairings are almost all exciting for the Italians, even if they will be played between February and March and even then could. That changes a lot in the form and performance of the team. For all three Serie A teams, a pairing with Borussia Dortmund, the surprise winner of Group F, is possible.

Inter

The one most afraid of the UEFA vote is Inter, which puts Real Madrid in its path. Overall, Simone Inzaghi will certainly hope to avoid Manchester City and Bayern, as well as Carlo Ancelotti’s players. Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane are all very scary. More affordable, so to speak, Borussia and Atletico Madrid.

Naples

Among the potential rivals, Napoli, which is certain to avoid Real Madrid, will only choose Real Sociedad. The remaining teams should be treated with caution: Bayern, Arsenal, Manchester City, Borussia, Barcelona and Atletico.

Lazio

Maurizio Sarri expressed his desire to see his Lazio team face Barcelona, ​​the team missing from the Tuscan coach’s squad, which cannot find Atletico, which it previously faced in the group. Sarri may be satisfied, but the full lineup of potential rivals is intimidating: Bayern, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Sociedad. Then it becomes clear why winning your group is so important: the second division list can only leave you with regrets: Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, RB Leipzig, PSV Eindhoven, Copenhagen. Apart from Mbappe’s Parisians, a difficult draw variable to decipher, the others were all teams within reach of the Italians.

Milan

At the European League level, Roma and Milan will not be able to meet. For Stefano Pioli’s side, the risk could come from a former luxury player like Gennaro Gattuso, who now manages Marseille. Even the matches against Sporting Lisbon, which has an offensive threat, and Freiburg, which, on the contrary, has an armored defence, will not be reassuring.

Rome

As for Roma, the danger lies in Benfica, Shakhtar and Galatasaray but there is also the more accessible Feyenoord, known to the Giallorossi, and Young Boys, certainly the less dangerous rival on paper.