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United set for Inter test

Author: Rose Young
Date: 23/02/2009

European club football's premier competition swings back into action this week as the Champions League first knockout round ties get underway.

Sixteen teams remain in the hunt for glory, with both England and Spain having four teams apiece in the reckoning.

England's contingent is led by holders and this year's betting favourites Manchester United, who have been in superb form in domestic competitions, having surged well clear at the top of the Premier League table in recent weeks.

Sir Alex Ferguson has guided United to two European Cup successes during his lengthy tenure at Old Trafford, but he will have to see off one of his former Premier League adversaries to try and secure a hat-trick.

Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is now in charge at Internazionale and the Milanese are currently on track for a fourth consecutive Serie A title, and seem certain to pose a serious threat to United.

England also take on Italy when Arsenal face AS Roma, with the Gunners looking to Europe to salvage a season which has seen them fail to maintain a league challenge.

Arsene Wenger guided the Gunners to the Champions League final in 2006, but his side's injury problems and lack of firepower mean that they could struggle to see off Roma, who will have talisman Francesco Totti fit and raring to go.

Runaway Spanish league leaders Barcelona face a tricky test against perennial French champions Lyon, with interest centring on whether France international Karim Benzema can impress against a Barca side expected to lead the bidding for his services next summer.

Tuesday night's other first leg clash sees Atletico Madrid play host to FC Porto, with an Iberian rivalry sure to encourage a spicy affair.

A key figure for the Spanish side will be former Benfica favourite Simao, who is sure of a frosty reception from the visiting fans at the Vicente Calderon.

Wednesday evening's programme sees a couple of eye-catching encounters, with Real Madrid hosting Liverpool and Claudio Ranieri taking his Juventus side back to one of his former clubs, Chelsea.

Madrid have been reborn since the arrival of new coach Juande Ramos, who has quickly swept away the misery of his time in charge at Tottenham Hotspur.

Ramos also has pedigree in European competitions, having guided Sevilla to UEFA Cup glory in both 2006 and 2007.

The only previous meeting of the two sides came way back in the 1981 European Cup final, when a late Alan Kennedy strike gave the Reds victory in Paris.

At Stamford Bridge, Ranieri will have a point to prove, having been axed by Chelsea to make way for Mourinho in the summer of 2004. However, his task will be made all the more difficult by the recent appointment of Guus Hiddink, with the Dutchman one of the best tacticians in the game.

Bayern Munich will have high hopes of reaching the quarter-finals when they face Sporting Lisbon, while Panathinaikos take on Villarreal in the final tie of the evening.

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