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The Juventus icon was disappointed by Inter Milan’s Champions League exit, meaning no Italian side will be in this year’s quarter-final draw.
Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero expects a theatrical reaction to Inter Milan’s Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, with the outcome meaning no Serie A clubs will partake in this season’s quarter-final.
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00:22 - 14.03.2024
Depay-inspired Atletico Madrid dump Inter via penalty shootout
Atletico Madrid knocked out Inter Milan through penalties to make LALIGA the most represented league in the UCL final eight.
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05:58 - 21.02.2024
Inter 1-0 Atletico Madrid: Simone Inzaghi reveals one regret despite triumph
The Nerazzurri boss is not resting on his laurels after Tuesday night’s victory over the LaLiga side managed by former teammate Diego Simeone.
Atletico Madrid vs Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi’s men led 1-0 from the first leg and doubled their lead after Federico Dimarco scored in the game's 33rd minute. But that lead lasted two minutes as Antoine Griezmann levelled for Diego Simeone's side, and it stayed that way until Memphis Depay sent the tie into extra time with his well-taken 87th-minute goal.
With no decider in the additional 30 minutes, the last-16 tie was settled on penalties, and Jan Oblak thwarting Alexis Sanchez, Davy Klaassen, and Lautaro Martinez's wild effort off target meant the Spanish side eliminated the Serie A champions-elect.
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What Del Piero said about Inter’s Champions League elimination
Asked by Jamie Carragher on CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage, the former Italy international said the reaction in the local media is expected to be excessively dramatic, with Serie A producing no quarter-finalists, having had three — Inter, AC Milan and Napoli — in 2022-23, with both Milan clubs advancing to the semis and the Nerazzurri playing in the final.
“It will be a good drama, Jamie, a good drama like we can do,” said Del Piero on CBS Sports. “It’s sad, especially in the Champions League with Napoli and Inter who had the opportunity (to advance to the quarterfinals). Last year for us was amazing, we had two teams in the semi-finals and three teams in the final, considering all the European cups. It was unreal for some reason, to be honest.
“This time is tough to digest because Inter had the quality in the team and the quality of the players and how they are performing at this moment. They deserve to be in the last eight, but the field is the only one that decides, and tonight the coin goes with Atletico.”
What comes next for Inter Milan after Champions League exit?
Inzaghi must galvanise his disheartened team, whose defeat by Atletico ended a winning start to 2024. The Nerazzurri had claimed 13 straight wins in the new year but must now focus on sealing another Scudetto as they have a 16-point lead over Milan in the table with 10 games remaining.
Inter face another eliminated Champions League club, Napoli, in their next Serie A game, with both sides facing at San Siro on March 17.
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