Finally, something for an Italian to cheer about in Europe. After witnessing AC Milan’s downfall in Manchester and Fiorentina’s unfortunate elimination at the hands of Bayern, Juve are now flying the flag for Serie A across Europe...oh and of course Inter, how could I forget.

Legrottaglie celebrates his opener ©Getty Images

Despite a desperately unlucky deflected Dickson Etuhu strike which gives Fulham a precious away goal, Juve are in prime position for a place in the quarter-finals. This two-legged affair is far from over, but we must be confident that the side has what it takes to shut-out the west Londoners, and possibly grab a vital away goal to kill off the tie.

Goals from Nicola Legrottaglie, Jonathan Zebina and David Trezegol Trezeguet were enough to see off a spirited Fulham side, managed by former Inter and Udinese coach Roy Hodgson. However, what made last night’s game all the more pleasurable was the apparent gulf in class between the two sides. On several occasions this year we have stuttered and stumbled our way over the finish line against inferior opposition, but last night La Vecchia Signora finally showed her authority much like a nonna reminding her grandchildren who’s boss.

Now, if you cast your minds back to a previous blog I wrote a few months back http://blogs.soccernet.com/juventus/archives/2009/10/post.php, you will remember that I spoke of the all-important FIFA co-efficient rankings. With only two of Italy’s finest remaining in European competitions compared with Germany’s five, it is a mammoth task ahead if we are to hold on to that fourth Champions League berth. Realistically, it will take either the Bianconeri or the ‘Italian’ champions to win their respective competition. Now it pains me to say this, but I shall be cheering on the blue and black half of Milan next Tuesday night at Stamford Bridge for the sake of Italy. Not only will this affect the country as a whole, but more directly us as we are currently in a dogfight for fourth place, and this may no longer represent qualification to compete with Europe’s elite.

As the football landscape looks set for another shift in power, what, if anything, can Italian teams do to stem the tide and fight back to the top? Economically, we cannot compete with the ludicrous billion pound owners of the EPL or Primera Division, but as Real Madrid showed on Wednesday night...money is not always the answer. There once was a time when we dominated European competitions, including the Europa League (then known as the UEFA Cup), but it all seems such a distant memory.

So Signor Mourinho, despite not being your number one fan (Award for Under-Statement of the Year 2010 goes to...), I wish you luck...the hopes of an entire nation rest upon what occurs in the next few months as Italian football looks set for yet another embarrassing reality.

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