Roma´s rise worries Inter Milan 

AS Roma’s stunning 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu to knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League has got everyone believing that there is once again a title race in Italy.

Stielike set to return as Ivory Coast coach 

The Ivory Coast’s German coach Uli Stielike, who quit the Africa Cup of Nations to nurse his dying son, will return to his post on a provisional basis, according to a report to appear here on Saturday.

Hull eye Okocha for another season 

English second tier side Hull could try and persuade Nigerian international veteran Jay-Jay Okocha to stay with them for another season.

Okocha hinted he may bring the curtain down on his career in May, at the age of 34, but he can invoke a clause in his contract that allows him to continue playing for the Championship side for another campaign.

Clemente takes charge at Murcia 

Former Spanish national coach Javier Clemente was on Thursday named as the new coach of relegation-haunted La Liga side Murcia.

Clemente takes over from the sacked Lucas Alcaraz and has been handed the task of keeping Murcia in the top flight.

Ageless Maldini could keep playing 

AC Milan skipper Paolo Maldini said on Thursday that he may not retire at the end of this season and keep going into the next campaign instead even though he will have celebrated his 40th birthday.

“I have a lot of energy left. One must be consistent, but at the same time only an idiot doesn’t change his mind,” said Maldini.

Czech striker Koller suspended, fined for spitting 

Nuremberg’s Czech international striker Jan Koller has been suspended for one league match and fined 15,000 euros (22,800 US dollars) by the German Football Federation (DFB) on Wednesday for spitting.

The 34-year-old, who joined Nuremberg from Monaco in January, was found guilty of unsportsmanlike behaviour at the end of his side’s 2-1 defeat at Hannover last Saturday.

Juventus admirers of Lamps: report 

Italian side Juventus, re-established in Serie A following promotion, are set to make an approach for Chelsea’s England midfielder Frank Lampard, media reports said Wednesday.

Lampard has 14 months left on his contract at Stamford Bridge but has been linked with moves abroad in the past and Juve boss Claudio Ranieri knows the midfield star well having signed him from West Ham during his spell in charge of the Blues.

Spanish football Federation is not above the law says government 

Spain’s chances of competing at Euro 2008 dimmed on Monday when the Spanish Sports Council (CSD) declared the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) were not above the law and should proceed with elections before March 31 and not in November as they want to do.

Rio Ferdinand determined to make it third time lucky 

Rio Ferdinand has acknowledged that the current crop of Manchester United stars will not be recognised as a great team if they do not go on to win the Champions League at least once in the next few years.

Napoli end Inter’s unbeaten record 

Napoli produced a stunning display to inflict the first league defeat of the season on champions Inter Milan on Sunday and breathe new life into the Serie A title race.

Coupled with AS Roma’s 4-0 thrashing of Parma on Saturday the gap between the top two in Italy is down to six points.