TMW: Hopes of Champions League place fade as Atalanta, Roma and Milan fail to win | OneFootball

AC Milan are hoping to reach the Champions League via the league this season, but they have made the task harder for themselves.

Traditionally, the top four qualify for the illustrious competition, with sides below falling into other European competitions, but in recent years, we have seen teams get an extra place in the Champions League due to co-efficient.

Last year, Italy profited from this, meaning they have five participants in the competition this season – Milan, of course, Inter, Atalanta, Juventus and Bologna – however, the chances of this happening again next season have been lessened.

As Tuttomercatoweb (via Milan News) reports, the UEFA rankings have been updated after the latest round of fixtures and Italy have lost their spot in the co-efficient to Spain due to recent results.

Milan and Atalanta fell against Feyenoord and Club Brugge respectively, whilst Roma drew last night in the Europa League. This now puts the nation outside of the extra-place rankings, but all hope is not lost.

In fact, the mission to regain this spot starts next week, where Atalanta and the Rossoneri will hope to overcome their deficits (for their own sake) which would aid the table. However, there is also the desire to see results go in the way of Manchester City (vs. Real Madrid), Midtjylland (vs. Real Sociedad) and Gent (vs. Betis).

This work is all well and good, but the Diavolo also have to overturn the distance between themselves and fifth in Serie A and that work begins tomorrow.