Author: Bikash Mohapatra

Fiorentina of Florence is the first club from Italy and Serie A to not only win a title in Europe but also play in three different European finals

European Football Stories: The Early Exploits of Fiorentina in Europe

AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Calciomercato, Catania, Champions League, Coppa Italia, Europa League, European Cups, European Football Stories, Fenerbahce, Fiorentina, Inter, Inter Milan, International Football, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Premier League, Real Madrid, Roma, Sampdoria, Serie A, Spanish Football, Stuttgart, Torino, Udinese, UEFA Cup, West Germany
When it comes to Italian football, Fiorentina represent a very unique and interesting case study. The Viola are the first club from Italy and Serie A to not only win a title in Europe but also play in three different European finals, as they prevailed in the Cup Winners' Cup maiden edition.
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Losing the semi-final on a coin toss marked a forgettable end to an otherwise memorable European competition debut for Roma

European Football Stories: How Roma’s Fate Was Decided by a Coin

AC Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, Bundesliga, Cagliari, Calcio Stories, Champions League, Conference League, Coppa Italia, Europa League, European Conference League, European Football Stories, FIGC, Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, La Liga, Lazio, Mourinho, Napoli, Olimpico Roma, Premier League, Real Madrid, Roma, Sampdoria, Serie A, Serie B, Torino, Totti, UEFA Cup
The coin that could have ended Roma's maiden campaign in the Cup Winners Cup early (against PSV), opted to give the Romanisti initial hope before ensuring eventual disappointment in the Semi Finals against Gornik Zabrze, one that would take a long time to recover from.
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Among the five Champions League finals that Juventus have been at the receiving end since their title win in 1996, their best chance was in 1997

European Football Stories: The Surprise Loss That Began Juve’s Drought

AC Milan, Coppa Italia, Europa League, European Cups, European Football Stories, Inter, Inter Milan, International Football, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, Maradona, Napoli, Premier League, Real Madrid, Roma, Sampdoria, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, UEFA Cup
Among the five Champions League finals that Juventus have been at the receiving end since their title win in 1996, their best chance was in 1997. But Juve were guilty of turning a blind eye to the ingenuity of their opponents Borussia Dortmund.
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Serie A clubs had ensured an Italian three-peat in European competition and the 1989/90 hat-trick marked the zenith of Italian club football

European Football Stories: The Serie A Unprecedented Three-Peat

AC Milan, Benfica, Champions League, Conference League, Europa League, European Conference League, European Cups, European Football Stories, Inter, Inter Milan, International Football, Italian Football, Italy, Juventus, La Liga, Maradona, Mourinho, Napoli, Olimpico Roma, Premier League, Real Madrid, Roma, Sampdoria, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Spain, Spanish Football, UEFA Cup
With the addition of the UECL last season, clubs in the various leagues across Europe once again have three continental competitions to look forward to. The possibility of three clubs from the same league/country making a clean sweep has once again arisen. It remains to be seen if Serie A' s unique three-peat of 1990 will witness a repeat in the coming years.
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After a protracted saga all the brouhaha has finally come to an end, with neither Roma nor Nicolò Zaniolo particularly benefitting

The Long Drawn Nicolò Zaniolo Saga Was a Bit…Zany

AC Milan, Bournemouth, Conference League, European Conference League, Galatasaray, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Premier League, Roma, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Tactical Trends
For someone considered as promising as Nicoló Zaniolo, going into a lesser league and at such an early stage of his professional career is a massive downgrade. Among the top echelons of club football results in the Turkish league do not quite register, neither do the performances. The expectations are considerably less, as is the spotlight on the players.
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There is no player in this Milan squad who can assume responsibility and lead from the front. With this 'I' aspect, missing Milan are in a ‘Mess’

How the Lack of an ‘I’ Factor Has Put Milan in Such a Mess

AC Milan, Champions League, Coppa Italia, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Italy, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Tactical Trends
As things stand, the Rossoneri lack owners who can run the club putting passion ahead of profit, players who can feel the real pride in wearing a Milan shirt and a leader that can take up responsibility and single-handedly inspire the team. Till these issues are addressed, Milan will continue to be in a mess, irrespective of one good performance or two.
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The transfer involving Rasmus Højlund (from Strum Graz to Atalanta) has an uncanny resemblance to that of Enzo Fernández's move from Benfica to Chelsea

From Hojlund to Fernandez: Six Months Later…at Ten Times the Price!

Atalanta, Benfica, Champions League, Chelsea, Coppa Italia, Denmark, Italy, Serie A, Tactical Trends
The transfer saga involving a certain Rasmus Højlund has an uncanny resemblance to that of Fernández. In fact, the Dane’s transfer can be labelled as the precursor of the Argentine when it comes to the similarities. For starters, the two players are of similar age. Secondly, the duo made the switch in about six months.
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