Uefa Cup contingent aiming for last 16

Cafu (c) says his Roma side need to concentrate

The Uefa Cup will be whittled down to 16 teams after the third round is completed on Thursday.

With teams contesting the second legs of their third round ties, there is bound to be plenty of tension and surprises.

Especially if the first leg encounters are anything to go by as several ties are delicately poised.

The Italian contingent will see AS Roma and Inter Milan aiming to join fellow Serie A side Parma in the next round.

Parma beat German side 1860 Munich and their Italian counterparts also have to overcome sides from the Bundesliga.

Favourites

Serie A leaders Roma travel to Hamburg with a slender 1-0 lead as they aim for their first European triumph since 1961.

"We already saw at Stadio Olimpico that they are not easy opponents," said Roma's Brazilian defender Cafu. "We must only think about winning."

Struggling Inter Milan came back from two goals down to draw with Juventus in their last league outing and they entertain Hertha Berlin after their 0-0 draw in the first leg.

Other German teams in action include Bayer Leverkusen, Kaiserslautern and Weder Bremen who play AEK Athens, Rangers and Bordeux respectively.

Former German national team manager Berti Vogts' Leverkusen side were involved in a 4-4 roller-coaster encounter at home in their first leg.

Kaiserslautern lost 1-0 to Rangers in Scotland while Weder Bremen face the difficult task of overturning a 4-1 deficit.

Spanish side Barcelona are one of the favourites to claim victory in the Uefa Cup. They have a two goal lead and home advantage against Belgian outfit Club Brugge.