How Almost Half of Serie A Could be in European Competitions Next Season

By Dan Cancian

Published on: April 8, 2025

The race for the Scudetto may be dominating the conversation in Serie A, but the tussle for the European places is just as intriguing.

With seven games left to play, six points separate Atalanta in third place from Fiorentina in eighth.

Meanwhile, Juventus and Lazio are respectively just one and two points adrift of Bologna, who occupy the final Champions League spot.

Eight Serie A clubs played European football this season and while only Inter Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina are left flying the flag, Italy could have nine representatives in continental competition next term.

Like England, Spain and Germany, the Italian top flight receives four automatic Champions League spots. An additional place is available depending on the UEFA coefficient.

It was courtesy of Italy’s ranking that Bologna qualified for the Champions League last season, despite finishing fifth.

Atalanta brought the Europa League trophy back to Italy after beating Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin last year (Photo: Harry Murphy / Offside via Getty Images)

But with the Premier League and LaLiga in a commanding position this term, Serie A is unlikely to have five representatives at the top table in 2025-26.

That makes the race for top four even more interesting.

As things stand, Inter and Napoli have all but secured their place in the Champions League, with Atalanta and Bologna holding the remaining two spots.

The team finishing fifth will earn a place in the main Europa League draw, while sixth place will go into the Europa Conference League play-offs.

Were the season to end now, Juventus would play in the Europa League next season with Lazio beating Roma to a Conference League spot by two points.

The winner of the Coppa Italia also gets a Europa League berth – which is where things get complicated.

*Serie A could have nine representatives in European competitions next season (Photo by Claudio Lavenia – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)*

Were Inter or Bologna, who are in the top four, to lift the trophy then the team in sixth would qualify for the Europa League with the team in seventh going into the Conference League play-offs.

However, if AC Milan, who are ninth, were to win the Coppa Italia then they would join the fifth-placed team in the Europa League with the team in sixth qualifying for the Conference League instead.

The same scenario would apply if Empoli were to win the trophy, but after losing the first leg of their semi-final 3-0 at home to Bologna the Tuscans need a miracle.

So, should the cookie crumble favourably, Serie A could have nine teams in Europe next season.

Those hopes, however, hinge on Lazio and Fiorentina lifting the Europa League and the Conference League this season and Milan winning the Coppa Italia.

Success in their respective tournaments would see the Biancocelesti qualify for the Champions League, La Viola enter the Europa League, and up to nine Italian teams take on Europe.

It may not be straightforward, but it is still possible.