For the first time in nine years, players, officials, staff and fans from four separate Serie A clubs will be tuned into the Champions League draw to learn their fate.
There will be representatives from four Italian clubs taking their seats in Monaco on Thursday as champions Juventus are joined by last year’s semi-finalists Roma as well as Napoli and Inter.
Not since the 2009/10 season when Juventus, Milan, Inter and Fiorentina took part in the group phase have four teams reached this stage of the tournament and it throws up some mouthwatering prospects for fans of calcio.
First up are Italy’s only pot one side Juventus.
Unfortunately for fans of narrative, they can’t be drawn against holders Real Madrid, who eliminated them last season in controversial fashion, which would have resulted in Cristiano Ronaldo coming up against his former club.
However, they aren’t the only ex of the Portuguese in the draw and the Bianconeri’s big summer signing could see himself reunited with Manchester United, who are in pot two, meaning Roma will thankfully avoid them given some of their Champions League exploits against the Red Devils.
Both those sides could be drawn against pot three’s top dogs Liverpool, a game that would give the Giallorossi a chance to avenge last season’s semi-final defeat and do so at the expense of Alisson, who left for Merseyside during the summer.
One blockbuster battle that could crop up is a rematch of Roma’s quarter-final clash from last season with Barcelona, a fixture that would have increased spice given not only the Lupi’s jaw-dropping comeback but also the summer transfer saga involving Malcom.
Both Roma and fellow pot two side Napoli will both be hoping that the top seeds they are paired with are Russian outfit Lokomotiv Moscow (who have a lower co-efficient than four pot four clubs) given the difficulty any other side would present.
Paris Saint-Germain is one possibility and could see not only Edinson Cavani come back to haunt Napoli but it would also give Javier Pastore an immediate opportunity to show the French champions why they were wrong to move him on.
Bayern Munich’s decision to sack Carlo Ancelotti clearly still leaves something of a sour taste in the mouth of the Partenopei boss and with the way the draws have lined up, it could see him return to Bavaria with a point to prove.
Such has been the well-travelled career of the Italian tactician, the draw could also see him meet other former employers in Real Madrid or PSG, although a date with Bayern would bring a little more bite and animosity.
When it comes to games with that bit of spice to them, an affair between Inter and Real Madrid would also be an extremely interesting one, given Los Blancos’ summer threats to report the Nerazzurri to UEFA over their pursuit of Luka Modric.
Being paired with their city rivals Atletico would also see Diego Simeone return to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and Lautaro Martinez face the side he came close to joining, while there is also the possibility of a reunion with Jose Mourinho, the man who led them to the trophy in 2010.
Unfortunately for the Biscione, given their position in pot four, they are the worst placed of the Italian sides to end up in a potential group of death and face a real mountain to climb to get out of it.
Should the hypothetical worst happen, it could see Inter in a group alongside holders Real Madrid, Bundesliga powerhouses Borussia Dortmund and rounded out with Liverpool, making it a section to include a representative from all four of Europe’s major leagues.
The Champions League draw takes place at the Grimaldi Forum at 6pm CET.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com