Italian clubs have good chance for earning silverware in Europe

New Delhi: Italy's Serie A clubs have grabbed the oppurtunity to finally shine on European soil as it marks a sense of respite given their absence at the big stage in recent years. Italian domestic champions Juventus led the way in booking a berth in the semi-final of the Champions League and it was followed by the success of Fiorentina and Napoli who registered qualification for the semis of the Europa League.

The last Italian side to win the Champions League was Inter Milan in 2009-10. Since then none of the Serie A clubs managed to get to the semi-final and final until this season. Juve who have been emphatic domestically, banked on their fine form to get to the last four and breaking the barrier of performing well in Europe after failing to impress in the last couple of years.

Treble-chasing Juventus reached a first Champions League semi-final since 2003 as they showed their defensive prowess to earn a second-leg goalless draw in Monaco and progressing in aggregate score on Wednesday. They will be up against Europe's elite group that comprise the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

In the Europa League, Napoli and Fiorentina both impressed in getting crucial results and have a real chance of making it all the way. Italian teams have had a poor run in the Europa League in more than a decade with Parma being the last Italian team to win the trophy back in 1999.

Napoli was brilliant against an in-form Wolfsburg and have a manager in Rafa Benitez who has credentials of European titles under his belt. Fiorentina have put their poor run in the Serie A behind them and mustered a classy 2-0 win against Dynamo Kiev to dominate the two legs with a 3-1 scoreline.

With the financial bankruptcy in Serie A alongside a failure in attracting world class players, the Italian clubs have looked shabby in recent times. The fall of the Milan duo and inconsistency of Italian teams in Europe have been a painful scenario.

But despite the struggles the Italian teams this term have managed to come far in Europe and present themselves a good chance to win a major silverware.

The first leg of the Europa semi-finals will take place on 7 May and the return leg will take place a week later on 14 May.

Meanwhile the first leg of the Champions League semis will take place on 5-6 May and the return leg will take place a week later on 12-13 May.