aka: Rossoneri (red-blacks), Il Diavolo (the Devil)
Associazione Calcio Milan is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in the world having won the Champions League seven times (second only to Real Madrid) - most recently in a memorable final against Liverpool last year in Athens. Owned by the powerful media magnate and former Italian President Silvio Berlusconi, Milan has spared no expense in building their squad of international and domestic superstars. Despite their storied history Milan has stumbled in the last four attempts in the Italian Serie A and were further hurt last year when they were penalized 8 points to start the season because of their implication in the match fixing scandal that rocked Italian football (il Calcio) in 2006. Yet they've surprisingly continued to be one of the most competitive clubs in the Champions League having appeared in two of the last three finals.
Successful manager Carlo Ancelotti has helmed the club since 2001. With a staunch defense in Italian stars Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini (regarded as one of the best in history), and the Brazillian Cafu, and midfielders like Italian international Gennaro Gattuso, free kick specialist Italian international Andrea Pirlo, and the young Brazillian superstar and reigning World Footballer of the year Kaka. Milan has strengthened their side with the recent addition of Brazillian international megastar Ronaldo and young Brazilian starlet striker Alexandre Pato ("Alex the Duck").
Continuing their domestic struggles Milan currently reside in lowly fifth place in Serie A where they would fail to even qualify for a place in next year's Champions League tournament. They've also been eliminated by mid-table Catania Calcio in the Coppa Italia so the Rossoneri will put all their eggs in the Champions League basket as they aim to return to the final for the third time in four years. To do so they must knock out high-flying Arsenal.
FC Internazionale Milan (Inter Milan, Inter)
aka: Nerazzuri (Black-Blues), La Beneamata (the Cherished)
Football Club Internazionale Milano are the third most successful club in Italy behind only Juventus and bitter crosstown rivals AC Milan. They are the only Italian side to never have been relegated to a lower league. Inter is riding high on a wave of success over the last two seasons as they've won two Serie A titles and the Coppa Italia. They were among the favorites to win last year's Champions League but were unceremoniously eliminated in the Round of 16 by Valencia in a match that ended in a rowdy brawl.
Four year manager Roberto Mancini fields a stong international squad of superstars with a seven player Argentinian contingent. Inter's defense is led by vice-captain Colombian defender Iván Córdoba and vice-captain Italian international defender (and Zidane headbuttee) Marco Materazzi. The Nerazzuri's midfield is anchored by veteran club captain Argentinian Javier Zanetti, his countryman Esteban Cambiasso, and Serbian international captain Dejan Stanković. The attack is led by high-scoring tempermental Swedish superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Argentinian international striker Julio Cruz, and Honduran international striker David Suazo. Inter also count Portugese winger/midfielder Luis Figo, widely held as one of the best of his era, and Argentinian star striker Hernan Crespo among its veteran leadership.
Inter currently sit well above the Serie A table, besting closest rival Roma by a comfortable 11 points. The Nerazzuri would love to put the cherry on top of this glowing moment in their club history with their first European Championship in 43 years. To do it they'll have to knock off perrenial powerhouse Liverpool.
AS Roma
aka: Giallorossi (Yellow-Reds), I Lupi (the Wolves)
Associazione Sportiva Roma represent Rome in Serie A alongside their intercity rivals Lazio. Although enjoying a period of success in the 2000s - a Serie A title in 2001, and a Coppa Italia title in 2007 - they are more often than not playing second fiddle with four Runners-up finishes in Serie A and three Runners-up finishes in the Coppa Italila in the last six years. The closest they've come to a European title was Runners-up int 1983-84 tournament.
Roma's manager, Luciano Spalletti, has made a name for himself in the notoriously defensive Italian Serie A by adopting a relatively creative attacking style of play. They are led most famously by their captain, Italian forward Francesco Totti as well as Italian defender, Christian Panucci, Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi, and the talented Brazillian winger Mancini who scored one of the most dazzling goals of last year's tournament. Additionally Roma have added to their attacking possibilities by aquiring the speedy French international winger Ludovic Giuly from Barcelona.
Roma currently sit in second place in Serie A, well behind leaders Inter Milan. The Giallorossi would love to take that next step and win a championship on the European stage. They show moments of brilliance but need to put together a long string of good form to overcome Spanish giants Real Madrid.
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