If Inter Milan wins the Champions League, it could reshape how Serie A is viewed in Europe—impacting UEFA coefficient rankings, Champions League spots, and Italian football’s global status.
As they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Champions League final, the stakes for Italian football go well beyond silverware.
A victory would not only cap off Inter’s extraordinary campaign—it could mark a significant moment in Serie A’s modern resurgence.
Serie A’s European Revival in Recent Years
Italian clubs have made a powerful statement in Europe over the last three seasons.
Inter reached the 2023 Champions League final, while Fiorentina played in back-to-back Conference League finals in 2022-23 and 2023-24, albeit in losing efforts. The latter also made the semi-finals of the same competition this season.
Meanwhile, Atalanta were crowned Europa League champions in 2023-24, having beaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final.
That success earned Serie A a fifth Champions League spot for the 2024-25 season—a major achievement in the race with the Premier League, Bundesliga, and La Liga.
This season, England and Spain were the two best-performing nations, meaning Italy lost their additional fifth-place Champions League qualifying team for the 2025-26 campaign.
Still, a Champions League trophy would be the clearest sign yet of Serie A’s recent European resurgence.
How the UEFA Coefficient System Works
UEFA’s coefficient system ranks domestic leagues based on their clubs’ performances in European competitions over five years.
The better a league’s teams do, the more points it earns. These rankings decide how many teams each league gets in UEFA tournaments.
During the 2024-25 season, teams from England and Spain performed better than Italy’s, meaning fifth place from both the Premier League and La Liga were awarded qualification.
Italy topped the UEFA coefficient standings for 2023/24, thanks to deep runs from Inter, Atalanta, Roma, and Fiorentina.
An Inter Champions League win would greatly boost Serie A’s position and potentially secure more spots in future competitions.
What a Champions League Win by Inter Milan Would Change
If Inter Milan defeats PSG in the 2025 Champions League final, it won’t just end a 15-year drought for Italian clubs in Europe’s premier competition. It will symbolize the return of Serie A to football’s highest echelon.
For those who followed European football in the 1980s through the 2000s, it once seemed unthinkable that Italian clubs would go over a decade without a Champions League crown.
Jose Mourinho’s 2010 triumph with Inter was the last, and while Serie A has produced top managers and tactical innovation since, European silverware has remained elusive at the very top level.
This would change that. It would:
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Reassert Inter as a European superpower, having come close in 2023 with a narrow 1–0 loss to Manchester City
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Cement Simone Inzaghi’s legacy, placing him in elite company—alongside Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Di Matteo as the only Italian managers to lift the Champions League this century
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Restore pride for Serie A managers, especially in a period where Italian coaching has continued to dominate domestically, with an Italian winning Serie A every season since 2010
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Prove Serie A clubs can still compete with England and Spain’s elite, despite financial limitations
The Financial and Commercial Impact for Serie A
Winning Europe’s biggest prize would bring Inter immediate financial rewards: over €130 million in UEFA prize money, as well as significant broadcasting and sponsorship boosts. But the wider impact would ripple across the league.
Should Serie A return to a position where they have five teams representing them in the Champions League, the league would earn significant income. Increased interest from American and global audiences—already rising—would surge again, especially with clubs like Napoli, Milan, and Juventus rebuilding under big-name coaches.
It also makes a difference in the betting world. A league once seen as unpredictable is now a haven for value bets on proven contenders. See the latest odds and projections from the best offshore sportsbooks to follow how Italian clubs are being backed ahead of next season.
Can Italy Stay at the Top of Europe?
Consistency is key. While Inter, Roma, and Atalanta are leading the charge, the rest of the league must follow suit. Clubs like Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and potentially Atalanta are set to change managers this summer—pivotal decisions that could shape their continental fortunes.
For example, Raffaele Palladino has resigned from Fiorentina and is already being linked with the Atalanta manager’s job should Gian Piero Gasperini leave for Roma. These decisions will impact how competitive Serie A stays in Europe.
The broader tactical evolution is also underway. Modern coaches like Thiago Motta, Vincenzo Italiano, and Igor Tudor have moved Italian football away from its conservative past toward proactive, attacking systems that resonate in Europe.
Why The Champions League Final Matters For Serie A
Inter Milan’s showdown with PSG is more than a club vs. club final. It’s a battle for prestige, for perception, and for Italy’s place in the elite. A win could solidify a new golden era—not just for Inter, but for Serie A as a whole.
And with UEFA coefficients climbing, global viewership rising, and smart coaching driving progress, it might just be the start of something bigger.
