[Official] Italy Reduced To Four Champions League Spots Next Season Following Lazio’s Loss To Bodo/Glimt

Lazio’s dramatic exit from the 2024/2025 Europa League quarter-finals has not only devastated their fans but also dealt a blow to Italian football on a larger scale.

After a 3-3 draw on aggregate against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, Lazio were knocked out in a tense penalty shootout at the Stadio Olimpico, losing 2-3. The result was especially bitter considering Lazio's strong performances throughout the group stage, where they had been among the standout teams.

Their elimination means that no Serie A team has reached the semifinals of this season’s Europa League—a disappointing outcome for Italian football. The broader consequence is a decline in Italy’s UEFA coefficient ranking, which has directly affected the country’s allocation of Champions League spots.

Unlike last season, when Serie A earned five spots thanks to stellar European performances, Italy will now return to the standard four-team quota for the Champions League next year.

This reduction raises the stakes in the domestic league. With Inter Milan and Napoli comfortably leading the pack and likely to claim two of the spots, fierce competition is brewing for the remaining two slots. Clubs like Atalanta, Juventus, Bologna, Lazio, Roma, and even Fiorentina are still in the hunt, making the top-four race more intense than ever.