Three Italian teams have reached the final of the European Cups: Inter, Roma and Fiorentina. It is the fifth time this has happened and the last time dates back to the 1993/94 season when the European Cups had different names and participants. That year, Milan won the European Cup final against Barcelona, Inter won the UEFA Cup against Salzburg, while Parma lost to Arsenal in the Cup Winners’ Cup, narrowly missing a hat-trick.
Italy’s only hat-trick in European competition dates back to 1989/90 when Milan’s Rossoneri lifted the Champion Clubs’ Cup, Juve the UEFA Cup and Sampdoria the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. The Sacchis Milan champions once again confirmed themselves on the roof of Europe by beating Erikssons Benfica through a goal from Dutchman Rijkaard; The Dorians got revenge for last year by beating Anderlecht in Gothenburg with a brace from Vialli in extra time. In the UEFA Cup double final, Zoff’s Juve defeated Fiorentina: 3-1 in Turin and 0-0 in the second leg in Avellino, an all-Italian final.
In 1988/89 there were also three Italian finalists: Milan in the European Cup final against Steaua Bucharest, Napoli in the UEFA Cup final against Stuttgart and Sampdoria in the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup, losing only to Barcelona.
In 1992/93 Milan beat Marseille in the European Cup final, Juventus won the UEFA Cup against Borussia Dortmund and Parma won the Cup Winners’ Cup against Antwerp.