The Champions League is turning into a real race against time for Inter and Napoli, two teams who dominated Serie A in the past but now find themselves in a position of great uncertainty. After 180 minutes of play, both suffered four defeats and showed weak defenses, casting doubt on the possibility of closing the group stage with at least 24 points, an essential requirement to access the play-offs.
Inter scored six goals in two games, but lost to Villarreal 3‑1, with a goal from Forbs canceling out Lautaro's brace and Bonny's entry. Coach Allegri expressed his frustration, calling the defense "a disgrace". Napoli, however, conceded a goal from Rrahmani which canceled out Mikautadze's advantage, leaving the team in a precarious position. Both teams have shown that they are unable to maintain their defensive solidity, a critical factor when playing in Europe.
The Champions League format in its third year includes a single group stage, where the top 24 teams qualify for the play-offs. In the first two seasons, the situation was different: in 2024/25 Dinamo Zagreb achieved 11 points but finished 24th due to a goal difference of –7. Club Brugge, with 11 points and -4 goal difference, managed to overtake Atalanta in the play-offs. The previous year, José Mourinho's Benfica finished 24th with 9 points and -2 goal difference, but were eliminated by Real Madrid thanks to a goal from goalkeeper Trubin in the 98th minute. In summary, with less than nine points it is practically impossible to reach 24th position, while even eleven points may not be enough if the goal difference is too high.
The schedule of the two teams for the group stage has already been published. Inter will face Shakhtar Donetsk on 21 October, Feyenoord on 3 November, Stuttgart on 25 November, Borussia Dortmund on 9 December, Liverpool on 19 January and Slovan Bratislava on 27 January. Napoli, however, will meet Bodo/Glimt on 20 October, Porto on 4 November, Manchester City on 24 November, Club Brugge on 8 December, Sabah on 20 January and Viking on 27 January. These matches are essential to recover the standings and guarantee a place in the play-offs.
With the calendar already in hand, Inter and Napoli have only a few weeks to reorganize their lineups, improve their defense and try to accumulate at least 24 points. If they fail to do so, their Champions League adventure will end sooner than expected, leaving fans with a shattered dream. The next step for both teams will therefore be to make the most of the next matches, trying to transform their situation into a more favorable one and avoid further defeats which could jeopardize their qualification for the play-offs.