csconstantine.com

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The Champions League offers two mouthwatering first-leg ties in the last 16 on Wednesday as Inter Milan take on Bayern Munich in a repeat of last year’s final while Olympique Marseille host Manchester United.

Inter won that clash in Madrid 2-0 to complete a treble — and deny Bayern one—but the two teams go into the San Siro first leg in very different shape this season.

Both are still involved in their domestic cup competitions but retaining their league titles looks a long shot as Bayern are 13 points behind Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund and Inter trail AC Milan by five points.

Inter, however, are on something of an upward trajectory since Leonardo replaced Rafa Benitez as manager, though they will be without injured Argentine forward Diego Milito, scorer of both goals in last May’s final, for Wednesday’s game.

Manchester United, who beat Bayern to complete their famous treble in 1999, are well placed for another triple assault despite continually being told they are not playing well.

Four points clear in the Premier League and into the FA Cup quarter-finals—albeit after a laboured 1-0 win over minor league Crawley Town last Saturday—United are progressing, if not exactly marching, into the business end of the season.

They travel to the south of France buoyed by an impressive record on the road in the Champions League, having lost only two of their last 20 away matches and winning nine of their last 10.

Marseille are in the knockout stage for the first time since they won the inaugural Champions League title in 1993 but they will need something special to overcome a long injury list and upset Alex Ferguson’s seasoned campaigners.

(Editing Ken Ferris; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Labels: Again, Bayern, Inter, looks, Reuters, Treble