Overview of The Athletic’s “Totally Football Show” European edition
This episode is the season finale of the show’s European coverage and focuses heavily on the dramatic end-of-season battles across Italy and Spain, plus cup finals and European qualification races in France, Germany, and Portugal. The main headline is that Como and Roma secured Champions League places in Serie A, while Milan crashed out of the top four and Juventus were also overtaken. The panel also discusses major summer shakeups looming at Napoli, PSG’s injury concerns before Arsenal, and several remarkable lower-budget success stories across Europe.
Serie A: Como and Roma into the Champions League, Milan collapse
The big outcome
- Inter, Napoli, Como, and Roma are the four Italian teams heading into the Champions League.
- Milan and Juventus miss out, with Milan’s late-season collapse described as especially severe.
Como’s rise
- Como’s qualification is framed as one of the season’s most impressive stories:
- Back in the top flight only recently after years in the lower leagues.
- Bankrolled by the Indonesian Hartono brothers.
- Managed by Cesc Fàbregas, who is expected to stay.
- The panel notes potential issues around:
- Stadium availability for Champions League matches.
- Squad registration/homegrown-player rules.
- Financial fair play given their aggressive spending.
Roma’s surge
- Roma finished strongly, with Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy central in their final-day win.
- Dybala’s backheel assist was highlighted as a standout moment.
- The discussion emphasizes:
- Roma’s late-season run under Gasperini.
- The impact of Donyell Malen as a January signing and one of Europe’s form players.
- Roma’s improved striking options compared with Juventus and Milan.
Milan’s collapse
- Milan lost at home to Cagliari, finishing fifth and missing the Champions League.
- The fallout is expected to be dramatic:
- Massimiliano Allegri to go.
- Senior executives above him also likely to be replaced.
- The panel sees this as a broader structural reset rather than just a coaching change.
Juventus and the derby chaos
- The Turin derby was overshadowed by fan violence and safety concerns.
- Kickoff was delayed after clashes and threats of pitch invasion.
- Juventus still briefly led 2-0, but the match ended in a draw that didn’t help their Champions League hopes.
- The season is portrayed as embarrassing and unstable for Juve, on and off the pitch.
Napoli and Antonio Conte
- Antonio Conte has announced he is leaving Napoli.
- Possible futures discussed:
- Napoli job opening.
- Conte being linked loosely with the Italy job, though the panel says that is premature.
- Napoli may also face possible ownership-level changes, with talk of a major offer for the club.
- The team was built around Conte’s preferences, leaving a question about what comes next for players like Scott McTominay, Rasmus Højlund, and Kevin De Bruyne.
La Liga: Spain squad shake-up, Girona down, Getafe and Rayo to Europe
Spain World Cup squad news
- The Spanish national team squad features a striking omission:
- No Real Madrid players for the first time in Spain’s World Cup history.
- The panel notes this has become politically charged in Madrid, with Florentino Pérez’s rival, Enrique Hikelmi, trying to use the issue in the Real Madrid presidential debate.
Girona relegated
- Girona’s final-day draw with Elche sent them down.
- The result is framed as particularly painful because:
- It came from a goal by Álvaro Rodríguez, a locally born player.
- Girona had lost some of its local identity, making the symbolism sting more.
- Their relegation also matters for City Football Group, which had used Girona as a pathway club for young talent.
Betis, Getafe, and Rayo Vallecano
- Real Betis secured Champions League qualification.
- Getafe grabbed a historic European place despite scoring only 32 league goals all season.
- Rayo Vallecano also qualified for Europe and were praised for:
- Their collective spirit.
- Fans and players working together to help supporters travel to Leipzig.
- Players singled out at Rayo:
- Jorge de Frutos
- Iván Balliu
- Sergio Camello
Mallorca and Osasuna
- Mallorca were relegated despite winning on the final day because of head-to-head rules.
- Osasuna survived after a tense final-day match at Getafe that ended with a pitch invasion and celebrations in the away end.
France: Lens win the Coupe de France, PSG build-up, Saint-Étienne pressure
Lens’ cup triumph
- Lens beat Nice 3-1 to win the Coupe de France, their first ever title in the competition.
- The panel highlights:
- Florian Thauvin’s goal as the moment of the match.
- A great season for Lens, who also pushed PSG in the league.
- A celebratory scene back at the stadium in the early hours, with fans still present for a late-night party.
- Coach Pierre Sage is expected to stay.
Nice and the relegation play-off angle
- Nice were competitive but ultimately beaten.
- Their season may still be defined by the looming relegation/promotion play-off, which features Saint-Étienne.
- Saint-Étienne’s situation is described as a huge challenge for Nice, even though Nice are not directly in danger.
PSG vs Arsenal update
- PSG’s buildup to the Champions League final is shaped by fitness concerns:
- Achraf Hakimi is a doubt after a thigh issue.
- Ousmane Dembélé is more likely to be available after calf trouble.
- If Hakimi misses out, Warren Zaïre-Emery may play at right back.
- Fabián Ruiz is back, which gives Luis Enrique tactical flexibility in midfield.
Germany and Portugal: Kane shines, Torrense make history
Bayern Munich win the Pokal
- Bayern beat Stuttgart 3-0 in the German Cup final.
- Harry Kane scored a hat-trick and continues to have a monster season.
- The match turned after halftime, with Bayern’s quality overwhelming Stuttgart.
Torrense’s historic Portuguese Cup win
- A stunning upset in Portugal:
- Torrense defeated Sporting CP in the Portuguese Cup final after extra time.
- It was their first trophy in 109 years.
- The win makes them a European qualifier next season.
- The episode notes the emotional backstory of Stopira, whose call-up story and cup-winning penalty made the moment especially poignant.
Key takeaways
- Como’s and Roma’s Champions League qualification are among the most significant stories of the European season.
- Milan’s failure is treated as a full-scale sporting and structural collapse.
- Napoli, Juventus, Girona, and Milan all face major resets heading into the summer.
- Across Europe, the episode celebrates clubs punching above their weight:
- Lens
- Getafe
- Rayo Vallecano
- Torrense
- The final section tees up a busy summer of coaching changes, squad rebuilds, and continental competition previews.