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We kick off today with news from Rome where Manchester United and Roma fans clashed, riot police got involved, several fans were stabbed before the game, other fans were beaten up by the riot police during the game and that’s just the controversy that happened off the pitch.

1. Manchester United vs Roma - a very big storm in a very small teacup

I’ve already put up some coverage of the riot police clashing with Manchester United fans, but this morning’s news coverage is far more extensive and worth a look:

Emergency situation in football - William Gaillard (Uefa chief) (Guardian) - Gaillard was in the stands watching the game.

Fans in hospital after violence (BBC Sport)

Sky Sports - The damning factor is that the Lille saga will have an impact on this as well, with Manchester United fans coming under scrutiny. There’s a possibility that Man Utd fans will be blamed for causing the trouble - they have already been blamed by Italian media during the game.

Will Roma’s history come into play as well?

Additionally, (surprisingly no one from Man Utd has mentioned the ball boys yet), and I think the one incident he points out, where Roma players ask the ref to send off Scholes and then applaud and pat him on the back for doing so demanded some action.

Heinze’s yellow card for dissent was quite petty as well, and Scholes should have been allowed a bit more leeway (in both cases the players won the fouls).

The Roma players - for all their bluster about Ronaldo - kept going to the ground for the faintest touch and sometimes without being touched. They pushed the game to the limits of its rules and for them it paid off with a series of free kicks near the United area and extra pressure that a) led to Scholesy’s tackles that made a negative impression on the ref and b) helped Roma win corners, which they used to get the first goal.

Overall - I think United were flustered by Roma and were beaten by a smarter team. Without the red card it would have been a different story - 2-2 perhaps. Without the help of the ball boys it might have been 2-1. Without the ref’s help it might have been 2-1 with a Roma player sent off for diving. Lots of variables, but you can’t complain because the two goals were legitimate, the second one was a van der Sar mistake and we had the chances and ability to draw / win and we didnt.

Bring on Roma on Tuesday. Hopefully the incident will have been reviewed and settled by then.

2. Chelsea 1-1 Valencia - All to play for

Mission accomplished for Valencia. They wanted to bring the tie to Mestalla and win it there, and now with the 1-1 draw and the crucial away goal, they’ll be able to try to do just that next week.

Mourinho’s calm demeanour will help settle nerves in Chelsea, but his philosophical nature does not hide the fact that the second leg is one of the biggest tests of Mourinho’s Chelsea career.

Joe Cole got his minutes on the clock and his return will greatly help Chelsea in the closing stages of the domestic campaign.

3. Martin Jol & Tottenham

Martin Jol talks to BBC Sport about his work at Tottenham. While I share MJ’s belief that the Spurs can win the Uefa Cup and possibly in the future qualify for the Champions League, they’re not mentally tough - not enough to sustain a concerted campaign in the Premiership, at least.

4. Torsten Frings - Juventus or Tottenham?

This is interesting.

On Sky Sports, Frings is quoted as saying that Juve want him at any cost and it’s a move worth thinking about.

Last month though, Frings was quoted as saying that there was no truth in the Juve rumour.

What I’m wondering is - why don’t Tottenham throw money at him? Like Klose to Manchester United, Frings to Tottenham will probably be the best deal for the Spurs this summer.

If he’s ok without Champions League football, that is.

Frings to United? If Hargreaves doesn’t come, why not

5. Liverpool’s Aurelio out for 4 months

Fabio Aurelio is out for four months after rupturing his Achilles tendon during the Pool vs PSV game on Tuesday. At least he’ll be ready for next season.

6. Seville boss makes a precious admission

Trust the Sun to get you one good scoop a day.

Juande Ramos, Seville manager:

“I’ve a contract with Seville making it clear that if another club wants me a release clause of £340,000 has to be paid.

I hope that can happen with Seville. But in football you have to be open as things can change very fast.�

Manager on the move? Ramos is one of the hottest young managers right now, it’ll be interesting to see where he goes (if he goes).

7. Can Alan Pardew rescue Charlton and ridicule West Ham?

Reading Pardew’s positive comments and the way he’s turned Charlton around, one wonders what happened at West Ham…

8. Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea agree to reserve sides

In a recent interview Wenger said that it would be better for reserve teams to be playing in the Championship than in reserve games. That makes it 3 out of 4 top managers. I have no doubt that Ferguson will agree as well.

If the top managers agree, and I can guarantee you that Tottenham and Newcastle will agree as well, what the hassle? More on this later

Soccerlens Coverage

• Chelsea 1-1 Valencia - Valencia get the vital away goal and have an advantage going to Mestalla
• When will Alan Shearer manage Newcastle United?
• Roma 2-1 Manchester United - ball-boys and diving help Roma get a crucial lead
• Video of Manchester United fans attacked by Roma police (full coverage)
• Arsenal (P Hilton), Liverpool (P Anderson), Tottenham (S Johansson), Newcastle (D Richards), Chelsea (S Williams) - Can you guess the rest?