Thursday night marks yet another major game in United's memorable campaign. With our league form faltering over recent weeks and having been knocked out of the FA Cup, the match against Roma offers us the chance to breathe life back into our season. What's more, a quarter final place awaits us if we succeed.

Of course, typically, O'Leary is playing down all prospects of us proceeding to the next round, saying that they are the best team he's seen all season and that we've done well even to get to this stage. However, hopefully, this will turn out to be just another bit of kidology. It seems to have done the trick for most of the season up to now!

Our team news is improving although the loss of Batty against such a top European side is still a massive blow. The only consolation is that the team has got more than used to playing without him - as he's been absent from the first team scene for so long. McPhail only has a 50/50 chance of starting whilst Jason Wilcox is unavailable due to a suspension he picked up during Blackburn's last campaign in Europe.

Better news is that Bakke and Jones are available following their suspensions of last week and Bridges appears to have recovered from his ankle injury. This is especially significant as, with Wilcox out, it means Kewell can revert to the left, with Bridges probably playing as the lone striker, a role he relished in the earlier European rounds.

Roma have strength in depth, with a look of real quality about them. They have invested heavily since our meetings with them in last season's UEFA Cup, when we were unlucky to lose out to just a single goal on aggregate.

French defender Candela and Brazilian Aldair are performers of real quality - as is Totti, who plays as an attacking midfielder, behind the front two. However, it is with their strikeforce that they really shine. Marco Delvecchio is one of Europe's most feared strikers and bagged the only goal for the Italians against us the last time round. This season, he has been joined by £15 million man Vincenzo Montella from Sampdoria. He has knocked in 15 goals for them already this time around. Together they are sure to pose problems for our defence. The only slight consolation is that we will have our first choice back four out: Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate and Harte, with Martyn backing them up. All five will need to be on the very top of their games if we are to keep a clean sheet on Thursday.

What a night! Some people were writing off our chances even before tonight's game kicked off, perhaps believing O'Leary's pre-match kidology. However, following a superb battling performance in the Stadio Olimpico this evening, where Nigel Martyn's heroics earned us a deserved goalless draw, we must now surely have a great chance of making it through to the last eight of the UEFA Cup.

O'Leary decided upon a defensive formation which the back five didn't seem to feel entirely comfortable with for much of the first half. Woodgate partnered Radebe in the centre of defence whilst Haaland, getting a rare start, played as sweeper. Kelly and Harte played as out and out wing backs.

Of the two sides, we started the brighter. Perhaps the home sides were still suffering from their weekend defeat by Juventus. As early as the third minute, Bakke had a great opportunity to give us the lead. However, he could only head Kelly's cross at the keeper, who saved with his feet.

We had the best of the first quarter of an hour but then Roma began to enjoy more of the possession. It was then that the United defensive system didn't look entirely convincing. Having said that, they were playing against truly world class players.

On 18 minutes, a quickly taken free kick by recent signing, Japanese International Hidetoshi, caught the United central defenders flat footed. He fed Totti, whose powerfully hit shot was well saved by Martyn.

Two minutes later, there was yet another moment of danger when Delvecchio, who scored the only goal of last season's encounter, found himself one on one with Nigel. He then decided to throw himself theatrically to the turf but the referee waved play on. The only mystery was that if the official claimed it was no penalty, then surely the Roma front man ought to have been booked for play acting.

Five minutes later, Roma stepped through the gears yet again. This time a cross from the right was expertly met on the volley by Mangone. However, thankfully, he could not direct it under the crossbar.

On 25 minutes, Woodgate gave the ball away in his own half, on the Leeds' left, but Roma again failed to capitalise, through over elaboration - something we're normally guilty of.

Two minutes later, Cafu drifted into the area dangerously. However, this time Woodgate was the hero - preventing a shot on goal with a superbly timed sliding tackle. Immediately, we counter attacked through the ever dangerous Kewell and this time, we played one pass too many and the move broke down.

We were starting to get more into the game once more and it was Kewell again who was involved in our best moment off the first half. A brilliant through ball from Bridges found Harry running into the Roma area. However, under pressure from a Roma defender, he couldn't quite beat the oncoming keeper. Instead, hitting the shot with his weaker right foot, he could only direct it inches wide of the right post.

This marked a turn in the match as Roma enjoyed much the better of the final fifteen minutes of the opening half. On 37 minutes, Totti - who was Roma's most influential player - hit a right foot shot with real force but Martyn saved well again, at the second attempt. Then just before the internal, the home side really pushed for a goal. One minute into stoppage time, a corner from the left seemed to be slightly misjudged by the United keeper. However, Nigel more than redeemed himself with two point blank saves: first from Totti, then Zago. Just seconds before the whistle, Totti then tried an audacious chip which was superbly tipped over by England's true number one.

If the first half ended with us under pressure, then this would be increased over the second forty five minutes. However, as in the first half, it was Leeds who made the best early chance. Kewell picked up the ball in the centre and, showing excellent technique, ran toward goal. He cut inside and hit a well struck shot towards Antonioli. However, unluckily it flashed just wide of the post.

It was now time for an onslaught from the home side. Candela made fools of Radebe (not an easy thing to do) and Haaland to set up Cafu, who shot from the right side of the area. Martyn saved at full stretch. Delvecchio then flicked a header just wide of the Leeds goal with Martyn this time well beaten.

O'Leary made a switch on 71 minutes. Bridges had picked up a knock to be replaced by Smith. The youngster's first touch was almost marked by a goal but his curling shot drifted just wide. Leeds then had another rare attack just four minutes later. Kewell's lob looked to be deflected over the bar by Aldair. However, the referee signaled for a goal kick. Radebe then gave the ball away and Totti produced an instant lob. Again, even Martyn wouldn't have saved this, had it been on target. Luckily though it floated just wide.

The last quarter of an hour seemed to be just constant Roma pressure as we defended a little too deep and simply couldn't hold the ball upfield, to take away a little of the pressure. However, it still made for gripping viewing. Delvecchio, Montella, Totti and Cafu all had further opportunities but were denied either by the considerable presence of Martyn or by wayward finishing.

When the final whistle blew, following what seemed like an eternity of three minutes of injury time, it was greeted by a huge roar of approval from the traveling army of 5,000 United supporters. They had witnessed a great night of European football, which echoed back to the glory days of Revie and seemed a world apart from the blandness of some of the Champions League fayre on offer this week.

Undoubtedly Martyn had been the real hero but Radebe and Woodgate weren't far behind. Haaland showed his versatility yet again and sent down a message to the management team as to why he shouldn't be sold on cheaply to another club whilst Kewell proved himself to be a ready attacking outlet all evening.

On an evening of plusses the only slight disappointments were the performances of Bridges up front - although to be fair he didn't look completely match fit - and Bowyer, who looked a shadow of the player who had been so superb in the earlier rounds of the competition.

Along with 40,000 others, I can't wait for next Thursday's return encounter at Elland Road. Whatever the result, it should be a memorable night of European action. Roll on!

United Star Man - Nigel Martyn