I'm not really sure how many Italian footy fans will tune in to watch Manchester United vs. Roma on Wednesday night, because let's face it, Serie A representation in the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League will most likely stop at the Quarter-Final stage. After the debacles of AC Milan vs Arsenal and Inter Milan vs. Liverpool (and the associated triumph of English over Italian clubs) in the Round of 16, the Premier League vs. Serie A battle will hold its final chapter tomorrow, as the Mancunian Red Devils host the Giallorossi, comfortable with a 2-0 away win obtained at the Stadio Olimpico of Rome.

Any sane person would tag these as 'insurmountable odds' for Roma, but their manager Luciano Spalletti is 'forced' to believe in an exploit, and cites recent history to back it up. Indeed, on March 6, 2007 , Roma obtained their ticket to the UEFA Champions League next round thanks to a 2-0 away win over Lyon (after the first leg in Rome had ended 0-0). Even more recently, on March 5, 2008 a determined Giallorossi side travelled to the Santiago Bernabéu and beat a van Nistelrooy-less Real Madrid team 2-1, going against the odds of the Merengues' away goal in the first leg.

For the Roma manager, this tiny bit of hope is a lifeline…

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It's a night of magic in Madrid. Magic like the touches of Totti, magic like the saves of Doni and the tackles of Juan, magic like the goals of Taddei and Vucinic, magic like only Roma can be (they're nicknamed "La Maggica" in the Italian capital). The home factor of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu did not work this time: what the Spanish call "miedo escénico" (scenic fear) did not even graze the Giallorossi as they stepped into the footballing heart of Madrid. No sir, Francesco Totti & friends travelled to Spain with the firm belief that an exploit was possible, that beating the team with the most UEFA Champions League titles (in their home stadium!) was not a pipe dream.

Tonight's victory is in large part the merit of Luciano Spalletti, firm believer of his team's potential, uncompromising in modifying their attacking style, and proving dead wrong those who said that playing in such a way will never get you significant results. It is also the victory of everyone else on the Roma roster, but in particular Juan, Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Aquilani, and Mirko Vucinic, absolutely royal in their performance. Yes, royal, because there was only one king in Spain tonight and it wasn't Madrid: the Giallorossi traveled to the big monster's lair, brought the Spanish giant down to its knees, and returned pride to Italian football. Grazie Roma.