AS Roma v Manchester Utd:On the eve of tough Champions League quarter-final clashes this week, Italy's survivors, AS Roma and AC Milan, played out a predictable 1-1 draw at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on Saturday night. In a game in which both sides held back, thoughts of their coming Champions League battles against Manchester United and Bayern Munich respectively were all too obviously uppermost in their minds.

For instance, with an eye on their home tie against Bayern, Milan rested Paolo Maldini, Massimo Oddo, Gennaro Gattuso and Alberto Gilardino. Roma, with a rather weaker squad, could afford to rest only one player, Italian international Simone Perrotta.

Throughout the week, this game had been billed as a clash between Roma's Francesco Totti and Milan striker Ronaldo. In the end it was the Roma captain who made by far the biggest contribution, setting up the goal in only the fourth minute with a clever corner kick straight to French central defender Philippe Mexes.

If it took Totti less than five minutes to make an impact, it seemed as if Ronaldo, in contrast, might play for five years without bothering Roma so poor such was his first half. But he redeemed himself by running hard at Roma right back Marco Cassetti in the second half to win the free-kick from which Gilardino, who had come on as a substitute, headed home the 61st-minute equaliser.

After that, both sides wasted golden opportunities to win the game with first Milan striker Gilardino and then Roma substitute Perrotta missing one-on-one chances.

For the Manchester United and Bayern scouts there was comfort to be had in both halves. The Bayern observers will have noticed the almost total lack of aggression and competitiveness from Milan in the first half.

Manchester United will have seen not only how Roma eased off in the second half but also will be grateful that the most influential Roma player on the night, creative little Chilean midfielder, Davide Pizarro, is suspended for Wednesday night's game at the Olympic Stadium.