Roma have progressed to the quarter finals of the Champions League forthe last two seasons, and will be confident of making the first knockout round again after the draw put them in a group with Chelsea, Bordeaux and CFR Cluj.

The Giallorossi start their campaign tonight atthe Stadio Olimpico against Romanian champions Cluj, which are really unknown outsiders in the competition. Cluj boast a team full of South American talent, with three Brazilians and six Argentinians. Roma are favourites to win the encounter despite the fact that Juan, Philippe Mexes, Simone Perrotta, Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi are allout with injuries. Roma lost to Palermo at the weekend and will bekeen to get a good result to start the Champions League season well.

Peter Pedroncelli - footballitaliano.org

A major objective for Inter Milan this season is the Champions League title, something their new coach Jose Mourinho knows about from histime with Porto (as a winner), and successful seasons at Chelsea.

The Nerazzurri have struggled in the competition in the past few seasons but should comfortably make it through to the knockout round after they were drawn in a much kinder group than the other Italian representatives. Werder Bremen, Anorthosis Famagusta and Panathinaikos make up Group B, and the Italian champions kick off their campaign tonight against the Greek team in Athens. Panathinaikos qualified for Champions League football after finishing third in the Greek League, and then winning a four-team play off. Inter won on the weekend in Serie A and will hope to continue their good run by aiming for at least a point in Greece.

Peter Pedroncelli - footballitaliano.org

Fiorentina are in a group with Lyon, Bayern Munich and Steaua Bucharest, and can certainly count on a tight finish in the groupstages, which may see them through to the last 16.

The Viola playtonight at the Stade Gerland against Lyon, who have won seven French championships in a row, but have not had great success in Europe. Lyonboast a top class midfield, with the likes of Jeremy Toulalan, uninho, Kim Kallstrom, and new signing Ederson. They also have one of the best young prospects in Europe up-front in the form of Karim Benzema. Fiorentina lost on the weekend against Napoli, and will hope to get some sort of result in France to get at least a point.

Peter Pedroncelli - footballitaliano.org