Rafael Benítez spoke with [**La Gazzetta dello Sport**](https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Champions-League/13-12-2024/benitez-champions-l-analisi-di-juve-milan-inter-e-atalanta.shtml) about the landscape of Italian football, describing this year’s Champions League as “fantastic.” Having won the competition himself and experienced it in various eras, Benítez is captivated by its modern, unpredictable nature. While familiar giants like Liverpool and Barcelona continue to dominate the headlines, he sees a growing force from Italy quietly making its mark. “It makes you think about Inter, Atalanta, Milan, and Juventus,” he remarked. “This way, you never get bored.”
Benítez reflected on how this edition of the Champions League has kept fans engaged until the very end. “We suspected that this edition would keep us on the edge of our seats until the end,” he said. Comparing it to past formats, he noted that group stages sometimes led to less exciting final matches. However, he recalled an exception from his own experience: “Incredible but true, it happened to us in the 2013-14 season. We were eliminated with 12 points after beating Dortmund, Marseille (twice), and Arsenal at what was then called San Paolo.”
He emphasized how different things are now. “With 12 points today, you’d be ninth in the standings and fully in contention for a top-eight spot. That’s what could happen to Milan, Atalanta, and Juventus. There’s potential for a sensational result, though it won’t be easy.”
Challenging the notion that Italian football is struggling, Benítez pointed to recent achievements as evidence of its strength. “This is the country that sent Inter to the Champions League final two years ago, Roma to the Europa League final, and Fiorentina to the Conference League final. Now, four Italian teams could advance through the main door.”
Speaking ahead of this week’s matches, Benítez highlighted Dusan Vlahović’s pivotal role in Juventus’ resurgence following their crucial win against Manchester City. “I thought Juventus would need Vlahović—his goals and explosive power—and he delivered everything on a special night that could mark a turning point,” he said. The Serbian striker’s decisive goal not only secured victory but also gave Juventus momentum heading into their next challenges. “Beating City after a complicated first half is energy,” Benítez added. “With six points now, they can even think about avoiding playoffs.”
When asked if Vlahović was the standout player of the week, Benítez responded thoughtfully: “I’d say yes because his goal against City accelerated Juventus’ transformation. Without that win—or worse, with a loss—they could have found themselves in serious trouble.” He also praised other standout performers like Rafael Leão for his goal, Ferran Torres for his brace with Barcelona against Dortmund, and the brilliance of Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham.
Benítez remains optimistic about Italian football’s prospects in Europe this season. He acknowledged that advancing further will require both exceptional performances and favorable circumstances but pointed out opportunities arising from upcoming high-stakes matches like PSG vs. Manchester City and Atletico Madrid vs. Bayer Leverkusen. “Milan has won four consecutive games now and erased their negative start,” he said. “They’ve kept alive this exciting prospect of four Italian teams making it through.” As for Inter, Benítez expressed no concerns: “Inter is solid. Against Leverkusen, they may have been slightly below par but conceded only when it seemed nothing would break the 0-0 deadlock. Inzaghi’s team is too strong not to make it directly to the Round of 16.”
Benítez also shared his admiration for Atalanta’s thrilling clash with Real Madrid: “A beautiful match, alive until the very last second. The giants of Real—Mbappé, Vinicius, and Bellingham—decided it in one-on-one situations. But it was a demonstration of great football, one emotion after another.”
Looking at the broader picture of European football this season, Benítez noted how teams like Liverpool and Barcelona have positioned themselves well for progression while urging caution due to the unpredictable format of this year’s competition.
Finally, he praised Bologna for their resilience despite being newcomers to this level of competition: “This Champions League gives them experience that will be valuable for future seasons and even in Serie A. Playing against top teams helps you grow.”