When Fiorentina was drawn in Group E alongside Liverpool, Lyon and Debrecen, few expected the Viola to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League-let alone as group winners as they relegated Lyon to second place and sent Liverpool packing.

The mighty Juventus crashed out in the group stages while cousins AC Milan and Inter Milan secured their places in the final 16 with labored performances, it was minnows Fiorentina that exceeded all expectations as they went on to collect an impressive 15 points in six games-with only Bordeaux boasting better numbers.

The last time Fiorentina was in the final 16 was back 1999. Since then the club has been to hell and back, clawing their way up from Italy's fourth tier to once again grace the continental stage.

Their opening game away to Lyon-who incidentally knocked the Italians out of the group stages last season-was, however, anything but encouraging as Alberto Gilardino was not only dismissed, but also banned for the upcoming game against Liverpool at the Artemio Franchi. In a stroke of genius, Viola tactician Cesare Prandelli invented teenager Stevan Jovetic as a striker. The starlet didn't disappoint and with his brace against the Merseyside team, he officially introduced himself to the rest of the world.

Viola went on to collect back-to-back victories against Debrecen before they once again dismantled Rafael Benitez's side-this time at Anfield. Prandelli's men then rounded up their impressive run in the group stages by securing their fifth consecutive victory in the tournament against Lyon-thus securing their spot in the final 16.

However, despite their impressive showings in the group stages were Cesare Prandelli's men simply thrived in the underdog position, the knock-out stages couldn't have come at a worst time. The Viola is officially in crisis after having picked up a single victory in five outings and currently resides in mid-table.

This season's revelation, Juan Manuel Vargas has been struggling lately; Gilardino is a shady of his former self and with the team as a whole displaying a clear lack of energy and confidence, things doesn't look very positive for the Tuscan side.

To add insult to injury, disgraced forward Adrian Mutu has been slapped with a ban for testing positive for the banned substance Sibutramine-leaving Gilardino and Jovetic to score the goals.

If that wasn't enough, Bayern Munich has found their stride in the Bundesliga and is currently on an unbeaten run of 14 games. Players such as Daniel van Buyten, Ivica Olic and Arjen Robben are in scintillating form and let's not forget that Franck Ribery has returned from his long-term injury layoff.

It seems like the Germans might be a bridge too far, however, Viola has been one of the surprise packages in Europe's elite competition thus far. The self-belief Prandelli's side has showcased this season is not to be underestimated considering their performances in the face of adversity.

Can Fiorentina surprise us yet again?

At the beginning of the season, there were few who believed that AS Roma would be able to pose any kind of threat to Inter Milan's title aspirations. Instead, teams such as Juventus and AC Milan were thought to be the reigning champion's toughest competition.

Despite getting off to a brilliant start, Juventus has disappointed greatly during the last couple of months and currently lies in seventh place. While Milan experienced quite a revival after a rather poor start to the season, the Rossoneri are third in the standings at the moment-two points shy of Roma.

Roma started off the season in terrible fashion, with back to back defeats which saw them in rock bottom of the table two rounds into the new campaign. Even more surprising was Luciano Spalletti's shock decision to resign after four years on the job. On Sept. 2, the former Chelsea and Juventus tactician, Claudio Ranieri, was appointed head coach.

The capital club went on to win 2-1 to Siena on Ranieri's debut. Since his takeover, they have only succumbed to three defeats, the last of which came on Oct. 28 against Udinese. In other words, the Giallorossi has gone undefeated in all competition for well over three months.

The capital club currently resides in second place-nine points off the pace from league leaders Inter. Ranieri has built a solid and well-balanced foundation during his time at Roma, and the team nowadays plays with the kind of confidence and enthusiasm that had been lacking for most parts of last season. On top of that, their unity, team spirit, mental strength, and focus are only second to the current champions at the moment.

Ranieri has always been believed to be a coach better suited for less high-profile teams, rather than clubs such as Juventus, where the pressure of winning and performing well is always present. Many believe that is the reason behind the "Tinkerman's" success in the Eternal City.

Ranieri plays with something of a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-1-2 and is not afraid to make tactical changes during the course of a game. The Roma-born tactician knows how to get the best out his players, who now even manage to collect the points independent of their performances.

Ranieri's introduction of Julio Sergio between the sticks has been a stroke of brilliance, considering the phenomenal form the "world's best third-choice goalkeeper" has showcased this season after having spent some three years in obscurity.

On top of that, the back four have been showcasing consistent performances with little to no rotation as Marco Cassetti, Juan, Nicolas Burdisso, and John Arne Riise can be found in a very consistent and solid defense-as well as getting on the score sheet every now once in awhile.

In the midfield, there are players such as the Roman warrior Daniele De Rossi, who does nothing to diminish his status of becoming the club's next bandiera. The squad possesses pure quality in the offence with players such as Francesco Totti and Mirko Vucinic. The acquisition of Luca Toni from Bayern Munich was excellent, considering that the center tank can provide some crucial goals and add more depth and range to the squad.

The Giallorossi has played 13 league games since their defeat to Udinese and has scored 22 goals and conceded only 13. Although the chances of lifting the Scudetto in May may seem slim at this point in the season, nothing is yet decided.

Just like Inter, Roma is battling on three fronts this season; whereas, the Nerazzurri have the pressure of performing well in the Champions League, the Giallorossi's main priorities lay in the domestic titles.

Ranieri is absolutely right in saying that the title is for Inter to lose, but as long as the injuries don't pile up or the team showcases a sudden drop in form, the capital club can capitalize every time José Mourinho's men slip up.

In the season of 2007-2008, the Giallorossi managed to close in a massive gap of 11 points to Inter and were only 30 minutes away from lifting their fourth Scudetto had Zlatan Ibrahimovic not scored a brace to send the Nerazzurri to yet another title.

There are 16 games left to go and let's face it-anything is possible in Calcio.

On March 16th, Inter Milan tactician José Mourinho will return to the Stamford Bridge for the second leg of the double fixture with his former club Chelsea where he spent two hugely successful seasons.

Inter patron Massimo Moratti has made no secret of his desire to lift the Champions League trophy and has splashed the cash in many failed attempts to make that a reality. The Italian champions are aiming for the treble this season and for the first time in many years actually seem to have a fair chance in reaching their objectives.

Although the season is far from over, the Nerazzurri seem well on their way to securing their fifth consecutive Scudetto. On top of that, they also have the advantage ahead of the second leg of their Coppa Italia semifinal against Fiorentina.

But in the end, it comes down to one thing; does Inter have what it takes to make a genuine push for the title that has evaded them ever since the glorious era of "Grande Inter" in the mid-sixties?

Let's have a look at the team's strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths

Inter are the indisputable dominant force of Serie A. Mourinho's men boast the best offensive and defensive records in the league having scored a whopping 45 goals and conceding only 19 - giving the team an average of 2.05 goals scored and 0.86 conceded per game.

As former fan favorite, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, packed his bags and headed for the Catalan capital in the beginning of the summer, there were many doubts over how the team would cope with the absence of their star man. However, the departure of "Ibracadabra" has allowed the team to transform into a hard-working unit, instead of the one-man show it used to be.

The entertainment factor may have decreased to a certain extent, but with the arrival of Diego Milito, the goals are still coming, considering the fact that the Argentine is very much in contention for the Capocannoniere crown with his 13 goals so far. With his excellent awareness, lightning speed and sheer intelligence, the prolific hitman is one of the world's most clinical finishers and definitely something more than your classical poacher.

However, the biggest contribution to the Beneamata's success this season can be tracked down to one player in Wesley Sneijder. Inter has lacked a creative midfielder for some time now, but since the Dutchman's arrival he has added another dimension to the Nerazzurri's game with his outstanding playmaking abilities, slick passes, great technical skills and not to mention, his lethal set-pieces.

Let's not forget some of the other stars Mourinho has at his disposal and what they can bring to the table. Samuel Eto'os experience on the European scene, Mario Balotelli's sheer unpredictability, Julio Cesar's world class saves, Javier Zanetti's age-defying performances, Esteban Cambiasso's powerful and energetic riots in midfield and not to mention, the all-around work rate in the team.

In all honesty, Inter's game has been far from dazzling at times, but their ability to churn out victories, despite poor performances and what has certainly looked like lost causes, has to be applauded. Their never-say-die attitude in combination with their insatiable hunger is what has set them apart from the competition in Italy during the past couple of seasons.

Another factor, and perhaps the most important one in their success, is the level of consistency Mourinho's man has showcased over the years. And let's face it - because this always plays a leading role - a nice batch of great fortune.

Weaknesses

Inter were probably drawn in the toughest group alongside Barcelona, Dinamo Kiev and Rubin Kazan, but progressed into the knock stages along with group-winners and current champions, Barca.

This has been said over and over, but as soon as the Nerazzurri step out on the continental stage, something happens to the team. There is a clear sense of inferiority in the tentativeness the players tend to showcase all too often on the big European nights. Instead of coming out of the traps right from the get-go, they often let the opposition set the tone of the game.

On top of that, the Italian champions lack experience on the European scene and their record against English opposition in the Champions League during the past few seasons has been far from encouraging. Last year the Beneamata were outmuscled by Manchester United in the final 16. The previous year, Liverpool had proven too strong. So, will it go any better as they take on Chelsea?

With their physical style of play, sheer strength and mobility, the Blues could cause quite an upset for the Milan side as they seem to finish excruciatingly close to the prize for each passing season. Although Mourinho has the strategic brilliance, mentality and knowledge of his former side (cancelled out by Carlo Ancelotti's ditto on Inter), the players may be taken completely by surprise by the intensity and tempo of the opposition.

Add that to the fact that the Portuguese mastermind has on several occasions moaned that the team has not heeded his tactics and you can see where I am coming from.

If Inter are to walk away with a victory, they will need to display the kind of adaptability they showed against AC Milan in the "Derby della Madonnina" a few weeks back. Despite Sneijder's early dismissal, the Nerazzurri outplayed their rivals on every position with expert tactics and precision.

This is particularly important considering that there are few sides in Serie A that actually have the guts to put up a good fight when pinned against the current champions (Siena and Bari recent exceptions). With this in mind, it's safe to say that they are yet to come up against a team that can move the ball at the pace Chelsea are capable of.

The recent injury troubles have bared some of Inter's weaknesses lately, especially when the players have been forced to play out of position. On top of that, Mourinho is not afraid to throw in make-shift strikers when chasing to gain all three points - despite it leaving the back four extremely vulnerable. Although it has rarely backfired, every mistake in the Champions League could prove to be the last.

Chelsea has proven to be far from unbeatable this season, but if Inter are to have a genuine chance defeating the Blues, they first and foremost need to start believing in their own abilities.

Ronaldinho was considered to be past his prime by pundits and supporters alike when he arrived in the Italian Peninsula in the season of 2008/2009. The mediocre debut season did nothing to prove them wrong. On the contrary, it confirmed everything they had expected of the former Brazilian wonder who no longer displayed dazzling performances or smiles.

The current campaign started off much in much the same fashion-but that was all to change. As Coach Leonardo figured out how to get the best out of the players at his disposal, the team started to thrive.

But there was one player in particular-Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian has undergone a renaissance under the guidance of fellow countryman Leonardo and has emerged as one of the team's protagonists this season.

It is partly due to Ronnie's brilliant form that the Rossoneri currently lie second in the standings, six points off the pace with one game in hand.

Who would have thought that the AC Milan-who got thrashed in the beginning of the season by champions and city rivals Inter Milan-would come to be genuine contenders for the Scudetto, a title they haven't won since the season of 2003/2004?

The dribbles, slalom runs, overhead-kicks, sublime passes, wonder goals, and dummies are all back on display. The Brazilian is hardly back to his Barcelona-best where he was easily superior to his peers, but the signs are encouraging. If he continues on the same path it will be very difficult-if not impossible-for Carlos Dunga to keep Ronnie out of the Selecão as the World Cup looms even closer.

The 29-year-old has scored nine goals-not to mention a stunning hat trick against Siena-and created numerous others in his 18 appearances so far.

It is simple to see that Ronaldinho is in love with football again.

"I have more fun here than when I was at Barcelona. I feel like I've gone back to when I was 18 years old, when I was enjoying myself like a madman with the ball at my feet. This is the greatest time of my life. I feel the love and so I am happy. Milan put me in a condition to work well, so I reach the field with the confidence and enthusiasm to do what I want."

In fact, Ronnie has expressed a desire to finish his career at the club and his impressive form might lead to just that, considering the reports which suggest that the Diavolo are ready to put forward a contract extension that would keep the prolific forward at the club until 2013.

With the second "Derby della Madonnina" only days away, Ronnie is ready to take to the spotlight once more. If the Rossoneri emerge victorious from the showdown with their city rivals, they could potentially be level on points-something Ronaldinho desires deeply as he aims toward "The Double."

"I want to win the Scudetto and Champions League with AC Milan, because I believe in The Double. Inter can be caught. I would also like to make Alexandre Pato and Marco Borriello the Capocannoniere winners thanks to my assists. Finally, I want to entertain all those fans who love me."

There is no doubt that the Brazilian is enjoying his football again. He's not just dazzling us with his arsenal of tricks, but also that contagious buck-toothed smile the world fell in love with a few years back.

There was once a time when Juventus was synonymous with victory and greatness, a time when all of Italy feared the Old Lady of Turin.

As one of the peninsula's most storied clubs, the pressure is always on for Juventus to perform well-and to do so in style. The days of "Lo Stilo Juve" seem to be long forgotten, considering the Bianconeri can't control the ball, let alone the play, these days.

Lately, Juventus has been acting anything but the storied and prestigious club they are. The objectives set at the beginning of the season are all but washed away. What's left of the club only seems to be bits and pieces.

How did the club get to this point?

Not only has the Old Lady dropped down to an unacceptable fifth place after a string of extremely disappointing performances, but the displays on the pitch have been nothing short of pitiful.

"We are absolutely embarrassing ourselves out there. We have many injuries, but that is not an alibi. There's no point hiding here. We are trying, everyone is giving their all in terms of effort, but the results are pitiful. We don't create chances and concede far too much. You can cling to bad luck, but obviously today we did nothing to win the match," said defender Giorgio Chiellini after their Sunday defeat away to Chievo.

By the current state of things, the risk of missing out on Champions League play next season is becoming all the more a real possibility for the club.

So what is really wrong with the team?

Here are a just few examples: An inexperienced coach who doesn't seem to be able to get the best out of a teamconsisting of underperforming players that clearly lacks both identity and a clear strategy. Not to mention the usual alarming rate of injuries and lack of consistency-in good results, that is.

"We have to say that it's our fault. We can't be happy with the performances and similar results. It takes continuity to reach great objectives, but we have found continuity in negative results," goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon complained after his comeback against Chievo.

What happened to the pride of wearing the Juventus jersey? Have the players forgotten the history, the honor and the prestige of what it means to be wearing the black and white shirt?

The squad certainly has the talent, ability, and quality needed in order to get out of the bad spiral, but their current mental state is keeping them from reaching their potential. The lack of determination, aggressiveness, and confidence has made it possible for any team to beat the Old Lady of Turin these days.

Would a change in the managerial position make the difference?

Ciro Ferrara's leadership abilities and desire to win was what made him an icon at the club. However, the former defender clearly doesn't seem to have the managerial skills needed to guide a team of Juventus' caliber.

Add poor tactical innovations and dubious other tactical moves where the players are forced into the wrong systems in regards to their qualities, combined with a clear lack of consistency, and it quickly becomes clear that the board might have made a mistake in appointing the rookie coach in the first place.

The team and Ferrara are, however, not alone to blame for the current situation at the club. Far from it, truth be told. The board of directors seems frighteningly clueless about what to do next.

The mixed signals regarding their stand concerning most issues has come under scrutiny on numerous occasions, and when former scandalized sporting director Luciano Moggi claims they know nothing about football, one can't help but to think he might have a legitimate point.

The players being linked to the club at the moment are nothing short of mediocre and if that is what Juventus has been reduced to, it's time that leading powers realized what club they represent and started to act accordingly.

It's going to take time to get these things right, but the first thing the slumbering Old Lady needs to do is to actually wake up and see the situation for what it is.