We Are Alive: Roma and Napoli Relaunch Champions League Bid as Atalanta Crush Slovan 4-0
Italy answers back in Europe
After a bruising start to their Champions League campaign, Italy's clubs finally gave the country something to shout about — and the morning papers made sure everyone knew it.
Corriere dello Sport's front page carried the defiant headline "We are alive!" above a banner declaring an "Italian redemption", while La Gazzetta dello Sport framed the night as the moment "Roma and Napoli relaunch themselves", with "eight goals" lighting up the evening.
Roma and Napoli lead the revival
Corriere dello Sport's round-up of the action spelled out the mood in shorthand: "Roma fan with Pisilli. McTominay, Napoli celebrate. Gasp crushes Slovan (4-0)."
Napoli's performance earned particular praise. La Gazzetta dello Sport led on "McTominay's super brace against Bodo (4-3): Allegri breathes", while Corriere dello Sport highlighted a "super De Bruyne as a regista" — a nod to Kevin De Bruyne dictating the game from deep — and noted that Matteo Politano scored too. Niccolo Pisilli was singled out as the Roman heartbeat of the night.
Atalanta's four-goal statement
La Gazzetta dello Sport also saluted a "Gasp show", with four goals described as a way "to forget about Real Madrid". Corriere dello Sport put it simply: "Gasp crushes Slovan (4-0)."
The papers' scorer round-up also name-checked Mario Hermoso, Nahuel Molina and Donyell Malen, who converted from the spot.
From shambles to celebration
The relief is all the more striking given how grim the picture looked only days earlier. On 15 October 2026, Football Italia reported that four Italian sides had lost in a single Champions League round for the first time, with Roma throwing away a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 to Real Madrid and Como going down 3-2 to Feyenoord.
The following day, 16 October 2026, Football Italia noted that Italy had slipped to ninth in the UEFA ranking, leaving the country's hopes of an extra Champions League place fading. On this evidence, the Italian game is not ready to give up on the season just yet.