Champions League Preview - Crunch time in Europe

The crunch match of the week involves the inconsistent Italians AS Roma, and the ever-present Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.

After the scintillating start to the season and the tag of Scuddeto favorites bandied around, Roma have stalled into falling five points behind in the race for domestic favors. The defense has self destructing and given away twelve goals in just five matches. They have had a tough run, but more was asked than they could give and it has shown. They still have the semblance of a great team however, and could click in an instant and mesmerize the football world once again. Sporting Lisbon will be a good tussle for the Italians, but they need the points as a tough return trip to Portugal awaits them in two weeks time.

Sporting are taking a talented team full of trickery and tenacity to the Giallorossi, and any result in them taking points will go a long way to gaining them a route through to the round of 16. They take good form into the match after a 3-0 result over improving Guimarães and a 2-1 win over Dynamo Kiev in their last Champions league result, but a lack of match fixturing will leave them short of match fitness and may impact the squad negatively, or revitalize their stamina and spirit.

Although the two are in opposing form, Roma will possess too many winners all over the pitch, and if Francesco Totti comes to the party, this could be ugly. I would be taking Roma to win at the odds of $2.40 available at sportsbet.

In a somewhat recurring theme, Italian giants AC Milan take on the improving Shakter Donesk at home in what they hope to be a return to form and a repeat of their last match in which Shakter was humiliated at the San Siro..

The Italians, who are always a presence in Europe and in the Serie A have fallen badly this year. They are currently ten points behind Internazionale in the race for the Scuddeto and a defeat in the dying seconds to Celtic has left the Italians on their knees in Europe. They still lead the group though and a return to form two weeks ago against Shakter has brought hope and fight to the club. Their main problem has been the isolation of the main striker in either Alberto Gilardino or Filippo Inzaghi, and only Kaka providing a bridge between the midfield and attack. But optimism has returned with the return of Ronaldo to the squad and Carlos Ancelotti could partner him immediately with Gilardino in a bid to stretch the Shakter defence.

Shakter troubled the Milan defense at home, and the scoreline suggested a blowout, rather than the tense affair it was for much of the game. The Brazilian trio of Brandao, Jadson and Ilsinho particularly troubled the Italians, and suggest that if on song the big spending Ukrainians could qualify for the round of 16 for the first time in the history of the club.

Milan has been woeful at times this year, but I fully expect them to repeat the performance against Shakter, even away from home. You can currently find odds of up to $2.20 at Sportsbet for the Italian team.

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