Bologna and Fiorentina are the only Italian teams in the quarter-finals: but do they really have a chance of winning the Cup?

The European nights restore confidence and certainties to Italian football: Bologna and Fiorentina secure their places in the quarter-finals of their respective competitions, demonstrating mental toughness and tactical clarity. Both teams assert themselves as strong contenders for the final victory in Europa League and Conference League.

In Europa League, the odds for Bologna soar after the sensational 4-3 win in extra time against Roma, in a heated Stadio Olimpico. Italiano's team displayed immense maturity, prevailing after 120 intense minutes against Gasperini's side.

The key was their ability to strike in transition: a tactical weapon that constantly put pressure on the Giallorossi defense. The Emilian offensive arsenal proved to be top-notch: opening with a genuine “eurogoal” from Rowe, doubling the lead with a penalty by Bernardeschi, and a temporary 3-1 with a powerful right-footed shot from Argentine Castro, who capitalized on a mistake triggered by the Roman defense.

Despite the fierce Roman comeback to 3-3, fueled by relentless support, the Emilians kept their composure: at the 118th minute, Cambiaghi sealed qualification, finishing off yet another vertical pass from Dallinga, confirming the emotional resilience of an indomitable group. The prospects for triumph now appear concrete. Eliminating this Roma away from home demonstrates a lack of reverential fear on the big stages.

In the quarter-finals, the challenge is called Aston Villa: if Bologna maintains the same mental solidity and lethal propensity for counterattacks, winning the Europa League becomes an ambitious but entirely achievable goal.

In Conference League, Fiorentina confirmed their ambitions by conquering the tough away match in Poland against Rakow. The Viola won 2-1 in comeback, replicating the result from the first leg at Franchi and flying into the quarter-finals. The chances of success for Vanoli's team rest on their ability to sacrifice and their readiness to react to adversity.

The challenge of Sosnowiec was anything but easy. After a complicated first half, lacking incisive plays and with more than one risk taken, the Tuscan team fell behind just 22 seconds into the second half due to a goal by Struski, resulting from a ball lost too carelessly by Ndour. At the most delicate moment, the Viola showed the qualities of a great team: no panic, just constant high pressure in the opponent's half in search of the equalizer.

Decisive were the moves from the bench: the newly entered Piccoli found the 1-1 by decisively deflecting a first-time shot from the redeemed Ndour. In stoppage time, a feat arrived that is destined to remain: Pongracic recovered the ball and, from his own half, launched a precise ground shot that, with the goal unguarded, secured the 1-2, probably one of the most iconic goals of the entire tournament.

The path to the final smiles upon the Tuscans. In the quarter-finals, Fiorentina will face Crystal Palace: a matchup that, considering the fourteenth place of the English in the Premier League and the struggles to overcome Aek Larnaca in the previous round, appears favorable on paper. The kind draw, combined with the responsiveness, spirit of sacrifice, and depth of the squad shown in Poland, places the Viola among the top favorites to lift the Conference League.