The ex-Azzurri coach believes that the Bianconeri's struggles in continental competition can be attributed to the slow and defensive nature of the Italian game

Juventus' homegrown style is leaving them unable to make the leap from Italian champions to true European heavyweights, according to former AC Milan boss Arrigo Sacchi.

No Serie A team has reached the last four of the Champions League since Jose Mourinho's Inter won the tournament in 2010 and the Bianconeri and Roma both showed up Serie A with embarrassing midweek defeats to Olympiakos and Bayern Munich, respectively.

While the Giallorossi probably expected a rough ride against the Bundesliga champions - although losing 7-1 at home certainly wasn't expected - Juve must have been anticipating all three points against their Greek opponents, who instead beat them 1-0 in Greece on Wednesday.

Sacchi hinted that Massimiliano Allegri's men are trapped, like the rest of Italy, playing an archaic brand of football that simply does not work against the likes of Bayern, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

"Juventus' story in recent years is one of difficulty in the Champions League," Sacchi told Mediaset.

"In Europe, you have to play a different kind of football to win and Juventus have not made that leap - even if they were very unlucky in the second half against Olympiakos.

"They threw the game away in a mediocre first half, where the only good thing was the build-up to Olympiakos' goal.

"Italian football is based on individuality and is at a slow pace. There’s no success [in the Champions League] now because in Europe that’s not what it’s all about.

"Olympiakos tried to score, whereas back in Italy there are teams which don’t ever try to score."

Pajtim Kasami was the hero for the Greeks, who go second behind Group A leaders Atletico Madrid on goal difference, while Juve are three points adrift in third ahead of bottom-placed Malmo.