Italian revival gathers pace

Italian renaissance 
Following the midweek wins against BV Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Milan and Inter enter the competition's winter break as leaders of their respective sections. And, say the Italian papers, at the vanguard of an Italian football renaissance. It is seven seasons since a Serie A club lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup. But that could soon change according to the Gazzetta dello Sport, which insisted that "not even the big freeze could stop the Italian renaissance" on this coldest of Matchdays.

One foot in the last eight 
Inter head Group A after the 3-2 home success against Leverkusen. "Inter were fantastic in the first half, their fine passing game earning them an ovation from their supporters," said the Corriere dello Sport. Milan top Group A having defeated last year's UEFA Cup nemesis Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion with a single Filippo Inzaghi goal. "The Rossoneri were unrecognisable from the team humiliated by Dortmund last year," claimed the Gazzetta. Juventus FC, meanwhile, thrashed FC Basel to gatecrash the Milan party and stay on the coat-tails of Manchester United FC in Group D. "The real Juve never disappoint," said Tuttosport. "Three Italian sides have a foot in the quarter-finals," the Gazzetta concluded, "finally we can be satisfied after the big depression."

Leverkusen need a break 
It was the opposite case for the 1. Bundesliga representatives, Dortmund and Leverkusen. The former "could not find a way past the Milan defence", and despite temperatures of minus eight degrees, "there was more life in the stands than on the pitch", moaned Bild. For their part, Leverkusen "are just glad of the break", goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt told Die Welt: "Things are not going for us as they did last year."

For the record 
Real Madrid CF could be saying much the same thing after their winless run extended to six games, the 2-2 home draw with FC Lokomotiv Moskva leaving the holders bottom of Group C. "Not even Raúl's 200th goal for the club could save Madrid's evening," said Marca. So it was left to FC Barcelona to take the Spanish plaudits after Louis van Gaal's team equalled Milan's 10-year Champions League record with their tenth straight win - a 3-1 home victory over Newcastle United FC. "If only they could play in Europe all the time," Marca said of a Barça team struggling at home but invincible in Europe. The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, admitted that "Newcastle are unlikely to repeat their heroic escape act of the first phase" after this second Group A defeat.

Setting the standard 
There were mixed fortunes for the other two Spanish challengers. Valencia CF frustrated Group B leaders Arsenal FC. "Valencia grab a vital point at Highbury," Marca reported. RC Deportivo La Coruna, however, went down 2-0 at Old Trafford to stay third in Group D. "In the private battle between La Liga and the Premiership which marked this round of the Champions League, Manchester United demonstrated that on the European stage they still set the standard for English football." At least until the next instalment in February.