Zenit St Petersburg have appointed former Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas as their head coach on a two-year deal.

Unsettled Tottenham star Gareth Bale has failed to report for training for a second day.

Europa League last 32: Zenit St Petersburg 2 Liverpool 0

‘JESUS seeks fourth victory over dragon’ is one of those headlines which most journalists can only dream of — except in Portugal, where the dragon is the symbol of Porto and Jorge Jesus is manager of Benfica.

ACCEPTED wisdom throughout the football world, from Moscow to Munich, is that it is unrealistic to pay muchattention to the league table early on — especially when only three games have been played, as is the case with Milan and Madrid.

Youth-team coach Vincenzo Montella has replaced Claudio Ranieri at the helm of Roma, the club confirmed today.

RAFAEL BENITEZ has denied suggestions he has been sacked by Inter Milan and re-iterated his demand that president Massimo Moratti backs him in next month’s transfer window.

Rafael Benitez's agent claims the Inter Milan coach is unfazed by growing speculation in Italy that he will be out of a job before the Serie A season resumes in January.

Roma are willing to consider offers for Italian playmaker Alberto Aquilani.

Twenty years ago tonight, Arsenal and Liverpool staged the most remarkable climax in history to an English football season. “A night of chilling simplicity” as commentator Brian Moore called it. Tony Leen was there.

Juventus have issued a statement denying they are looking for another coach following a dismal month for the Serie A giants.

ROMA coach Luciano Spalletti is keeping his cards close to his chest ahead of tonight’s crunch Champions League last-16 clash against Arsenal at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is keeping his cards close to his chest ahead of tomorrow’s crunch Champions League last-16 clash against Arsenal at the Stadio Olimpico.

FOR much of this season, Arsenal’s peculiar moniker has appeared little more than a hollow joke at Arsene Wenger’s expense: a side named after a south London armoury, but boasting all the firepower of a kiddie’s pop gun.

Arsene Wenger hopes Arsenal’s failure to make the most of their chances does not come back to haunt them in the return leg of the Champions League clash with Roma.

FORMER Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has warned his Roma team-mates not to be pre-occupied with playing an English style of football against Arsenal tonight.

Veteran Roma defender Christian Panucci will remain at the club until the end of the season, according to his agent.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti insists his club have not received an offer from Manchester City for midfielder Daniele de Rossi.

CHELSEA coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has promised the club’s fans more “beautiful” football against Roma in the Champions League tonight.

Real Madrid star Julio Baptista could be set for a move to Roma after the Spanish club’s sporting director, Predrag Mijatovic, revealed he would listen to offers for the Brazilian.

Chelsea have ended their interest in AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti, according to Rossoneri vice-president Adriano Galliani.

Michael Essien’s agent insists his client will not be linking up with his former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, but AC Milan have made informal enquiries regarding Blues strikers Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko.

MICHAEL ESSIEN'S agent last night insisted that his client will not be joining Inter Milan.

LIKE a good thriller, the battle for the title in Italy has produced half a dozen twists with one episode left. Those left dangling over the cliff edge after yesterday’s games include both Milan clubs, after Inter could only draw 2-2 at home to Siena and Milan suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Napoli.

REAL MADRID fans were hoping to see their team crowned champions again last night when they met Athletic Bilbao in one of Spain’s traditional grudge games, but Villarreal in second place are still not prepared to throw in the towel despite being 10 points behind.

Doctors are optimistic Roma captain Francesco Totti will be fit for the start of next season.

Roma have confirmed Francesco Totti will not travel with the squad for Wednesday’s Champions League return with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti fears Francesco Totti will not be fit for the Italian side’s Champions League return clash with Manchester United next week.

ITALY 0 England 3 read the headlines in Italy yesterday and the third consecutive English win in the Champions League over Italian opposition left the journalists asking why their clubs do not seem able to compete with the best in the Premier League.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is confident his side can overcome the absence of Francesco Totti and beat a Manchester United side he rates as the “best in the world”.

Roma skipper Francesco Totti is a major doubt for the first leg of his side’s Champions League quarter-final clash against Manchester United.

FABIO CANNAVARO has plenty of reasons for hoping Real Madrid can turn around their European tie against Roma tonight — not least because the Champions League is the main prize missing from his collection.

BATTLING Roma gave themselves a slender advantage after the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma 2 Real Madrid 1*

Italian football is under scrutiny once again after five Manchester United fans were stabbed in clashes with Roma supporters before Wednesday night's final Champions League group match between the two sides.

Roma 1 Man Utd 1

ALEX FERGUSON has backed Wayne Rooney to join his list of illustrious Manchester United captains.

ITALY striker Luca Toni insists the world champions will be fully focused on securing qualification for Euro 2008 in Saturday’s showdown with Scotland.

Cristiano Ronaldo has stoked the fire ahead of Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League clash with Roma tonight, after claiming the Italian side’s players “begged” him to stop tormenting them last season.

Francesco Totti has led an appeal for calm from Roma ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League quarter-final return with Manchester United.

Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta goes into tonight’s Champions League match against Manchester United hoping his team can duplicate the success achieved by Italy in Germany last summer.

SATURDAY night’s 1-1 draw between Roma and Milan in Rome lived up to its billing as a possible dress rehearsal for the Champions League semi-final.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti does not expect an easy ride against Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Champions League but is convinced his team can upset the odds.