This season's European journey has come to a sobering end for Italian football. What began with seven Serie A clubs dreaming of continental glory has concluded with none reaching the semi-finals, marking a historic low for the league.

The last hopes rested with Bologna and Fiorentina in the Europa League and Conference League quarter-finals, respectively. However, both campaigns ended on Thursday. Fiorentina showed fight with a 2-1 win over Club Brugge, but it wasn't enough to overturn a heavy first-leg deficit. Bologna, meanwhile, were comprehensively defeated by a strong Aston Villa side, losing 7-1 on aggregate.

This exit means Serie A will have no representative in a European semi-final for the first time since the 2018/19 season. More strikingly, it's the first time since the 1984/85 campaign—nearly 40 years ago—that Italy has failed to place a team in the final four during a season with three active UEFA competitions.

For Italian football supporters, this European disappointment follows the national team's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. It's a stark moment that highlights the competitive challenges at both club and international level, underscoring the need for a resurgence as the domestic season reaches its thrilling climax.