Today’s decision to revoke Juventus’ 15-point penalty while waiting for the outcome of a new trial by the Federal Court has shifted the proverbial goalposts in terms of the top four race.
MilanNews writes how Juventus are now in third place after having their initial punishment reversed for the time being, which bumps Milan down to fifth and Inter down to sixth, with the Rossoneri three points behind Roma who are in fourth.
So what changes now? First of all there could be five Italian clubs in the 2023-24 Champions League but only if Inter or Milan win the competition, or if Juventus or Roma triumph in the Europa League. Otherwise, Serie A would remain with four slots as per Italy’s UEFA ranking position.
There is an extra condition though: the winner of the Europa League or the Conference League cannot finish in the top four in the standings. For example, if the table finished Napoli, Lazio, Rome, Milan as the top four and Pioli’s men won in Turkey, four Italian teams would be in the next competition and Inter out.
If instead the Nerazzurri triumphed in Istanbul with the aforementioned top four, Inter would qualify for the next Champions League regardless of their final placement in the league.
Each country can bring up to a maximum of five clubs in the Champions League, the UEFA rules are clear on this. Given that the winner of the Europa League make the Champions League, in the event Italian teams win both European competitions and they both simultaneous placing of the teams concerned below fourth place, the fourth spot would only secure Europa League.
An example: if the table finished Napoli, Lazio, Roma, Milan then Inter won the Champions League and Juventus triumphed in the Europa League, Milan would have to settle for the Europa League.
To make everything even more complete and complex, there is also a hypothesis that leads to having eight clubs from Serie A in European competitions. If Inter or Milan are winners in the Champions League, Roma or Juventus win the Europa League and Fiorentina the Conference League then La Viola (based on the current standings, which sees them in ninth place) would get into the EL.
That would then free up one more place in Serie A meaning the seventh-placed team could still play the next Conference League, meaning eight European teams from Italy.
