Italian teams still in with a chance to progress

Two 0-1 away defeats and a goalless home draw are all the three Italian representatives in the Champions League have to show after the first legs of the first knock-out round matches were played last week.

Much more was expected from Inter, Juventus and Roma as Italy risks not having a single team in the quarter-finals of Europe's top competition.

In the UEFA Cup, the story was even more depressing for Italian football as Fiorentina, Milan and Sampdoria were all knocked out. Udinese are Italy's sole survivors in this competition.

But, not all is doom and gloom for Italy just yet as the three teams in the Champions League are still in contention to reach the quarter-finals, although the chances of all of them making it to the next round look very remote.

In their much-awaited home clash with current European champions Manchester United, Inter had a below-par performance, particularly in the first half. Inter's domination of the domestic league in recent years is down to the individual skill and flair of players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Maicon.

Whether under the guidance of former coach Roberto Mancini or current boss José Mourinho, Inter have seldom played as a unit.

While the brilliance of their star players has been enough to win them countless Serie A games and domestic trophies over the past three years or so, in the Champions League Inter have not had the same success.

The stalemate against United has been widely viewed as an encouraging result for Mourinho's side on the basis that they didn't concede a home goal. On the other hand, one has to be realistic and admit that Inter must improve by leaps and bounds if they are to find the net at Old Trafford and topple United.

Manchester United are presently the best team in the world. This is not only because they are the defending European champions and winners of last year's FIFA Club World Cup, but moreso because Alex Ferguson's men have played well in all competitions this season.

On Sunday, they added the League Cup to their collection of trophies, they are top in the English Premier League and many critics see them as favourites to reach this year's Champions League final in Rome.

However, Inter have what it takes to beat Man. United but to do that, they would need to raise the level and tempo of their game. It will be difficult for Inter but certainly not impossible.

Emotional return

Juventus were off to a stuttering start to their match at Stamford Bridge where coach Claudio Ranieri was making an emotional return, having spent four years in charge of Chelsea between 2001 and 2004.

Letting in an early goal against a team revitalised by Dutch maestro Guus Hiddink would have killed many a team but not Juve. The Bianconeri never threw in the towel and kept pushing on and on in search of an equaliser until the final minutes of the game.

The 0-1 reverse is a tricky result for Juve to overturn. Needless to say that, in next week's return leg, Juve must avoid conceding a goal if they are to keep their chances alive.

Against a makeshift Arsenal, Roma looked very shaky especially at the back. They appeared disjointed in midfield. It was only after the introduction of Claudio Pizarro in the second half that Roma improved.

Arsenal's margin of victory could have easily been two or three goals. The team's blunt attack, once again, undid much of the good work put in by Arsene Wenger's up-and-coming youngsters.

Roma can consider themselves very lucky to have left the Emirates Stadium with a narrow 1-0 defeat.

At the Olimpico, Roma are expected to show what they are really made of. At least that is what coach Luciano Spalletti has promised.