Mourinho relishes clash with Man Utd

As Europe anticipates the top-of-the-bill Champions League clash between Inter Milan and Manchester United on Tuesday, few will be relishing the contest quite as keenly as Inter’s coach Jose Mourinho.

Upon arriving in Milan in June, the Portuguese voiced his dismay at the dwindling international reputation of Italian football and he will view the round of 16 first leg at the San Siro as the perfect opportunity to remind the world of the allure of Serie A.

Mourinho has promised a “tactical” approach to the visit of his old adversary Alex Ferguson’s world and European champions, who have won 16 of their last 17 games in all competitions.

The former Chelsea boss has also wasted little time in sparking the pre-match mind games by claiming United striker Wayne Rooney should be banned for the tie.

Writing in British newspaper the Sunday Telegraph, Mourinho said: “Back in 2005, UEFA used TV evidence to suspend Michael Essien for a challenge that he made in the Champions League against Liverpool.

“Against (Danish team) Aalborg, Rooney made a challenge that deserved punishment. But nothing happens. What is the difference between Michael Essien from Chelsea and Wayne Rooney from Manchester United?”

Both sides top their domestic leagues – United by seven points, Inter by nine – but the defending champions will be without defensive lynchpin Nemanja Vidic, who is suspended, while Gary Neville, Wes Brown and Vidic’s likely replacement Jonny Evans are all injured.

Tuesday’s other Anglo-Italian tie features Arsenal and Roma, two sides looking to European competition for salvation after being made to endure testing domestic seasons.

Luciano Spalletti’s Roma have thrust themselves into Champions League contention after an abysmal start to the season that saw them pick up just two wins from their first 10 league games.

Arsenal are fifth in the Premier League after being held to their third consecutive 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland on Saturday.

Roma showed their class with a clinical 3-1 dissection of Chelsea in the group stages in November and Gunners coach Arsene Wenger is wary of their ability to raise their game.

“They’re a strange side,” the Frenchman said. “They like to do well against the good teams in Italy, so we must be cautious.”

Barcelona’s meeting with Lyon features the league leaders in Spain and France, with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona many people’s favourites to win this season’s competition.

The Catalans have stormed to the La Liga summit playing sumptuous attacking football, but a 2-1 defeat at home to city rivals Espanyol on Saturday allowed a resurgent Real Madrid to cut their lead to seven points.

Lyon consolidated their grip on Ligue 1’s top spot with a 2-0 win at Nancy, but they have failed to convince this season and look set to lose gifted young striker Karim Benzema in the summer, with Barcelona heading a list of rumoured suitors.

“The match against Barcelona will be different,” Lyon centre-back Jean-Alain Boumsong said after the victory at Nancy.

“If we qualify against Barcelona, it will mark an important stage in the life of the club and we will owe it to ourselves to continue.”

Tuesday’s remaining game pits Portugal’s Porto, European champions as recently as 2004, against an Atletico Madrid side who are off the pace in the Spanish first division despite an attack boasting the talents of Argentina’s Sergio Aguero and Uruguay’s Diego Forlan.