Rome brawl overshadows Champions League action

A mass brawl involving players, officials and riot police after the AS Roma-Galatasaray match overshadowed Bayern Munich and Manchester United's progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Ruling body UEFA looks certain to launch an investigation into some of the worst scenes ever seen at a match in European club competition after Galatasaray held Roma 1-1 at the Olympic Stadium.

Scuffling players and team officials had to be separated by riot police at the end of the game before being shepherded down into the dressing rooms under a hail of objects thrown from the crowd.

Eighteen police officers and three Carabinieri (military police) were treated for cuts following the mass brawl, said the Italian news agency ANSA.

In group A, holders Bayern and United drew 0-0 at Old Trafford, a result that, combined with Boavista's failure to win at Nantes, meant the two fierce rivals at the top of group A cannot be caught with one game remaining.

They join Spanish pair Real Madrid and Deportivo Coruna as qualifiers for the last eight with one round of group games remaining.

Before the trouble erupted in Rome, Umit Karan had put the Turks in front until Brazilian Cafu calmly levelled for Roma.

But the match will be remembered for the shocking post-match fighting which appeared to be sparked when Roma's Brazilian midfielder Lima, who used to play in Turkey, clashed with the Galatasaray players.

ANGRY PLAYERS

Roma coach Fabio Capello, who eventually helped usher Lima down into the dressing room area, said of his players: "I tried very hard to remove my players from the field and push them back down the tunnel.

"They were very angry and I just had to get them out of there."

The result, coupled with Liverpool's battling 0-0 draw at Barcelona, left group B wide open.

Roma lead the group on seven points, followed by Barcelona (six), Galatasaray (five) and Liverpool (four).

Shorn of the injured Michael Owen, Liverpool could take great heart from their draw at Barcelona, having lost 3-1 at Anfield to the Catalan side earlier in the group.

Barcelona went closest to scoring when Philippe Christanval's header struck the post in the second half.

Steven Gerrard wasted two excellent early chances for Liverpool.

The UEFA Cup holders could still qualify if they beat group leaders Roma -- whom they lost to 1-0 at home in the UEFA Cup fourth round last season -- at Anfield next Tuesday.

But they will have to do so without Dietmar Hamann due to suspension after the German picked up a first-half booking.

Barcelona must now win in Galatasaray's intimidating Ali Sami Yen stadium in their final game to be sure of their last eight place.

DAZZLING GIGGS

The game at Old Trafford was predictably tight with Ryan Giggs's dazzling display the main highlight of a low-key encounter.

Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn saved United's best effort from Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Bayern's Claudio Pizarro forced a good save from Fabien Barthez.

Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld probably finished the happier as his side made it five games without defeat against United, who they knocked out of last season's quarter-finals, since the English side's dramatic 1999 triumph over them in the final.

Both teams have nine points -- four clear of third-placed Boavista -- but United lead group A as they have the better head-to-head record.

The group winners have the advantage of being seeded for the last eight draw, so United will be keen to consolidate their position by winning at Boavista in their last game next Tuesday.

"We've got to try and win that game now," said United manager Alex Ferguson.

Bayern host Nantes, who wrecked Boavista's hopes of qualifying by holding the Portuguese side 1-1.

Romanian striker Viorel Moldovan fired the winless French side in front and Martelinho's 78th-minute equaliser for Boavista proved too little.