Worrying Italy numbers in Champions League group phase: only 8 goals

The debate over the quality of Italian football drags on, with Gazzetta highlighting that Azzurri players have only scored eight goals out of 487 in the league phase of the Champions League.

Italian footballers have only scored eight goals from 487 during the league phase of the Champions League, as Gazzetta reported on Friday.

There were seven Italian goalscorers overall, with Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca netting twice, Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Federico Chiesa (Liverpool), Giacomo Raspadori (Atletico Madrid, now at Atalanta), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Antonio Vergara (Napoli) and Federico Gatti (Juventus) once.

“It cannot be denied that the figures are extremely low and leave no room for enthusiasm,” wrote Gazzetta.

“The problem is well known and has persisted for some time. The number of Italian forwards in our top-level teams is very limited, and even from some high-profile players abroad, who are not strikers, such as Sandro Tonali, Riccardo Calafiori and Destiny Udogie, there are no encouraging signs in terms of goals.”

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has picked Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean as his starting strikers, with encouraging signs in his first six games in charge.

Retegui has scored five goals and provided four assists in six appearances under Gattuso, while Kean grabbed four goals in three appearances.

Neither Retegui nor Kean, however, features in the Champions League this season as Retegui joined Al-Qadsiah from Atalanta last summer, while Kean plays in the Conference League with Fiorentina.