Serie A is in crisis after its number in the Uefa Europa League was cut to one after AC Fiorentina blew a three-goal lead at the Artemio Franchi to German outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.

Fiorentina had a great chance of qualifying and given Serie A more numbers heading into the round of 16. Coincidentally to what happened in the week, the team again gave away a two-goal lead at home to Torino FC and is now miles away from AC Milan in the quest for European football next season.

In the Uefa Champions League, SSC Napoli hosts Real Madrid in the second leg on March 8.

Coach Sarri and his team failed to close in on leaders Juventus by losing out to Atalanta at home 2-0. The taste of defeat and an indifferent performance week in and week out are not going to help the team’s fortunes as their quest of finishing third and playing in the champions league has fallen in danger due to the resurgence of Inter Milan, Atalanta, Lazio and A.C. Milan.

With Fiorentina eighth on the log and dumped out of the UEFA Europa league with Roma advancing and Juventus taken a two-goal advantage to the J-stadium, would Napoli join Juventus and Roma in the latter stages of European competitions.

Napoli can give Serie A two slots in the quarter finals of Champions league

The UEFA Champions league after its rebranding in 1992 has not seen any team defend the title.

This undoubtedly gives Napoli a great chance of eliminating defending champions Real Madrid at the San Paolo since a two-goal win would tie the aggregate score and see them advance to the quarters on an away goal rule.

During the first leg, Diego Armando Maradona gave the team a prep-talk before losing but scored a vital goal that makes the second leg more of a competitive fixture.

March would decide Serie A’s European fate

In the middle of March, Serie A would know if it has been reduced to just one club in both European competitions or Napoli would make a gain on Real Madrid and increase the league’s numbers in Europe. Fans and pundits of Italian football would love to see a club from the league win another European trophy after Internazionale Milano in 2010.

For now, the league has high hopes in AS Roma after Nianngolan’s fine display against Inter Milan at San Siro on Sunday. After the game he said “we have a great chance of winning three trophies this year’ and that undoubtedly includes Serie A.

If Roma and Juventus are able to focus on their respective games then Serie A would be back and would replace Spanish La Liga by winning and holding the UEFA Champions league and Europa league in the same year.