Barcelona, AC Milan and Arsenal can all book places in the knockout stages of the Champions League with wins on Tuesday.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with his side's performance in recovering from 1-0 down with 10 men to beat Lazio 2-1 at Rome's Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
AC Milan still hope to sign David Beckham from Los Angeles Galaxy permanently and view the deadline imposed for a deal by Major League Soccer as a "tactic," chief executive Adriano Galliani said on Saturday.
Italy striker Mario Balotelli has joined Liverpool from AC Milan on a "long-term" deal, the Premier League club said on Monday.
Assistant coach Corrado Verdelli, who has enjoyed success with Inter's youth team, takes charge temporarily.
David Beckham said on Friday he will go on AC Milan's tour of Dubai during Italian Serie A's winter break but again reiterated he would be returning to Los Angeles Galaxy once his short loan spell is over. Beckham, who is joining Milan to keep his fitness up and stay in the England picture during the US close season, will not be able to play officially for the Rossoneri until January.
The right-wing leader, who was born on September 29, 1936, in Milan, was elected as the Prime Minister of Italy four times and transformed Italian politics.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Saturday more time is needed to seal an accord over a sale of a stake in AC Milan with Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol but said he could retain control of the soccer club.
Mathieu Flamini scored and was sent off as AC Milan were held 1-1 by Napoli in a third-versus-second battle in Serie A on Sunday while Inter Milan were on the wrong end of another controversial penalty in a 2-0 loss at Cagliari.
Real Madrid's Rodrygo struck twice and Jude Bellingham was also on target as the visitors enjoyed a 3-0 win at lowly Cadiz.
"The level is the same or maybe a little higher now at Chelsea," said Desailly.
Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard is a transfer target for Serie A champions Inter Milan, club president Massimo Moratti said on Monday. Lampard is one of several Chelsea players to have been linked with a move to the San Siro since the London club's former boss Jose Mourinho was appointed Inter coach earlier this month.
Inter Milan a laboured 1-0 win over promoted Lecce while city rivals AC Milan also had to work hard to secure a 2-1 victory at Reggina in the Serie A.
Mario Balotelli, whose wacky antics have filled the British newspapers almost daily in the last two and a half years, is set to return to Italy with AC Milan after a deal was agreed with Manchester City on Tuesday.
AC Milan have agreed a two-year loan deal with Chelsea for Fernando Torres but the Spain striker has yet to agree terms, the Italian club said in a statement on Friday.
Roundup of Champions League matches played on Wednesday night
The Brazilian World Cup winner is free to find a new club when the transfer market re-opens.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti held a meeting with chief executive Adriano Galliani and club staff on Monday to discuss the Serie A side's poor start to the season.
David Beckham wants to stay at AC Milan after his loan from Los Angeles Galaxy finishes on March 9, the Serie A club's chief executive, Adriano Galliani, said on Tuesday.
In other Champions League matches, Manchester United beat Scottish champions Rangers while Chelsea impressed while beating Lazio.
Hard running, hard tackling and an ever-visible aggression and determination characterise Gennaro Gattuso.
The Brazilian is now free to find a new club without the potential obstacle of a transfer fee.
Napoli squandered a two-goal halftime lead, then scored two late goals to beat nine-man AC Milan 4-2 in a stormy Serie A match which saw eight other players booked on Saturday.
Inter Milan retained their Serie A title with three games to spare after second-placed AC Milan put in a weak performance to lose 2-1 at Udinese on Saturday. Inter's triumph, in former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho's first season in charge, is their fourth straight scudetto and their 17th overall.
Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday he would step down as AC Milan president when he starts his third stint as Italian prime minister.
Atalanta came from behind to beat AC Milan 2-1 and move up to sixth place in the Italian Serie A.
Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini will join AC Milan on a four-year deal, the Serie A club said on Monday. The 24-year-old Frenchman, who signed for Arsenal from Olympique Marseille in 2004, will move on a free transfer with his contract at the Premier League club soon expiring.
AC Milan's troubles continued when they conceded an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time and were held 2-2 by modest visitors Verona in Serie A on Saturday.
Ernesto Valverde's Bilbao team punished the visitors with clinical counter-attacks, playing with the advantage of having won the first leg 1-0 in Madrid.
Italian police have detained an associate of soccer match-fixing suspect Tan Seet Eng at Milan's Malpensa airport, two judicial sources told Reuters on Thursday, following a tip-off by Singapore authorities.
A summary of the opening day's action in the UEFA Champions league on Tuesday.
Last season's AC Milan coach Leonardo was named manager of city rivals Inter Milan on Friday in a move which has stunned the soccer world despite the Italian game's celebrated eccentricities.
Juventus closed on their 29th Italian title with a 1-0 win over AC Milan thanks to Arturo Vidal's second-half penalty on Sunday.
For them it was a late Diwali, as the tunnel collapse happened on November 12, the day of the the festival.
AC Milan and Brazil striker Ronaldo ruptured a ligament in his left knee and must undergo surgery, the Serie A club said. The three-times World Player of the Year was carried off in tears after going down heavily during the 1-1 Serie A draw at home to Livorno on Wednesday.
Substitute Alexandre Pato netted a superb winner after Robinho had opened the scoring using the top of his arm as Serie A leaders AC Milan ground out a precious 2-1 win at Chievo on Sunday.
Ronaldinho has agreed initial terms with AC Milan and the Serie A club will now speak to Barcelona about a deal, Milan and the player's agent have said. The 28-year-old Brazilian has had a difficult few months at the Nou Camp because of injury and loss of form and a move has long been mooted. The forward is out for the rest of the campaign with a leg injury and a transfer can not officially go through until the end of the season.
