While there were no upsets in terms of Champions League qualification yesterday, plenty of dangerous teams finished second in their groups, so there will be very few easy-outs for Europe’s top competition resumes in February. Barcelona, Inter Milan, Roma and Real Madrid have all finished second in their respective groups. And if results go their way Wednesday, Manchester United and Arsenal could also move on to the next phase as the second-place team in their group. Inter coach Roberto Mancini said that so far, Olympique Lyon and Chelsea are the teams to avoid for teams finishing second, but Bayern Munich, Liverpool and injury-hit Valencia have also moved on as the first-place teams. Inter finished second yesterday after drawing 1-1 at Bayern Munich. “Both [Chelsea and Lyon] excellent sides,” Mancini told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday. “Having said that, I’d like to think that we will make life difficult for whoever we play. I don’t think anyone will relish the prospect of playing us.” An understatement, especially given Inter’s current run of form After losing its first two Champions League games, the Milan outfit has been on a tear in Serie A and Europe, winning 13 of its last 16 games in all competitions, drawing three. On Tuesday, Mancini rested several of his first-team regulars as the club drew 1-1 in a match that was largely academic for both sides since they had already qualified.
