Last men standing: Can Inter and Fiorentina make European progress?

Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale and Rolando Mandragora of ACF Fiorentina looks on during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and FC Internazionale at Stadio Artemio Franchi on February 6, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Serie A started out with eight teams in Europe – but one by one they have fallen by the wayside. Giancarlo Rinaldi examines whether the Nerazzurri and Viola can fly the Italian flag any further this year.

Last summer began with a high tide of optimism in the world of Calcio. The UEFA coefficient was flying so high after seeing many sides go deep in continental competition and a fifth spot in the elite Champions League was secured. This campaign, however, has not been so kind to the teams representing the green, white and red of their country.

It was almost inevitable there would be a dip in form after the impressive performances of the last couple of seasons. Milan and Juventus – two historic giants – have been disappointing their fans for much of this term while Bologna and Atalanta have been at times distracted by good Serie A form. Roma have picked up as Lazio have faded a little, leaving only two teams to defend Italian honour – Inter in the Champions League and Fiorentina in their favourite competition, the Conference League.

Both teams face Spanish opposition and the bookmakers do not fancy their chances. Barcelona are short odds to qualify against Simone Inzaghi’s men while the Tuscan outfit are also outsiders to see off Real Betis and get a third final in a row. But could either or both of them raise their game to pull off a shock?

The omens do not look great at the San Siro as the signs rack up that a long and draining season is starting to take its toll. Defeat in a Coppa Italia semi-final to one of the weakest Milan teams in the past decade might have been acceptable if Inter had been able to keep their Serie A challenge on course. Instead, they have been knocked off their pedestal with defeats against in-form Bologna and Roma which have left Napoli in pole position. It now looks like they might have to go all-in on Europe in order not to finish the season empty-handed. How quickly talk of another treble has evaporated.

The form lines do not make pleasant reading either. The Nerazzurri’s last win was against lowly Cagliari although they did show buckets of character to get the draw they needed to see off Bayern Munich. The return of Denzel Dumfries is a tonic but an injury to Marcus Thuram has shown up the shortcomings of their potential replacement partners for Lautaro Martinez up front. Even the undisputed best squad in Italy is starting to look a little thin.

And yet, there has to be room for a dash of optimism – even though Barcelona’s four wins in their last five outings makes for a worrying warning. They are a team which definitely allows the opposition chances to score and Inter have made something of a habit of unpicking opponents tactically in the Champions League. It will take another managerial masterpiece from Inzaghi to emerge triumphant over the two ties.

In the third-tier tournament which Fiorentina have made their own, the boys from the Artemio Franchi have not had their own troubles to seek. Throughout the competition they have made seemingly inferior opposition look good but they will be allowed no such luxuries against a side which has surged into sixth in La Liga and is one of the division’s form outfits. It is far and away the sternest test Raffaele Palladino’s men have faced this campaign.

What will cheer the Florentine faithful is that they are on a decent unbeaten run which has been achieved in trying circumstances. Without their standout striker Moise Kean for personal reasons and then flying full-back Dodo due to surgery, they have ground out wins that keep them in the hunt for a European place in Serie A. The icing on the cake would be another crack at silverware.

Rolando Mandragora is in the form of his life and Luca Ranieri is clearly relishing marshalling a defence in front of a world-class shotstopper like David de Gea who is back to his very best. The goalkeeper has history with Betis having seen them off comfortably in the Europa League in his days with Manchester United. He will likely have to make some key saves if his current employers are to make it to Wroclaw in May.

It will be a tall order for either Serie A team to win their Spanish challenge but neither of them goes into their clashes without hope. Inter have shown themselves capable of giving Europe’s best a tough game for a few years now while Fiorentina are stalwarts of the Conference League. They might not be fancied much in the betting shops – but don’t rule them out ruining a few punters’ wagers by the end of their two ties.