Champions League Final 16 - Juventus Roma Inter And Then There Were Three

Atop Group A Roma have definitely turned the right corner with a renewed march toward this year’s Champions League final again possible. After a terrible start to their domestic season and the shocking opening loss to CFR Cluj in the Group stage, all is forgiven by Romanista fans with Roma’s reversal of the group opener beating Romanian side Cluj 3-1 Wednesday evening. Roma will have to win or draw against Bordeaux in two weeks if they hope to move on but with their recent string of victories momentum has finally swung in favor of the Giallorossi.

Qualification to the last 16 by Internazionale was not as glamorous losing to visitors Panathinaikos 0 – 1. Inter still sit first in Group B on 8 points. The second and third place teams in group B, Panathinaikos and Anorthosis Famagusta, meet in the final group encounter with the victor being the second team to qualify from Group B. Panathinaikos will have the upper-hand needing only a point at home to Famagusta in two weeks time to join Inter, yet the Italians now need a result, possibly even a victory, away to Werder Bremen or risk failing to top Group B.

Tuesday evening saw the first Italian club eliminated when Fiorentina lost to French side Lyon at home 1 – 2. Juventus of Turin have already qualified for the last 16 and drew 0 – 0 away to Zenit St. Petersburg also on Tuesday.

The three remaining Italian contenders can all finish group leaders if Roma beat Bordeaux, Inter beat Werner Bremen and if Juventus draw with Bate Borisov in their final group clashes.

UEFA.com Magazine Matchday 5 Part I Interviews

Once again UEFA.com Magazine has supplied us with some fantastic matchday-5 player interviews. Listen to Alex Manninger, Olof Melberg, Mohamed Sissoko, Luca Toni, Fabio Grosso and Sebastian Frey discuss matchday-5 results.