( dpa )- Two goals in the last five minutes gave Liverpool a 2-0 victory against a ten-man Inter Milan in a round of 16 first leg Champions League match on Tuesday, while Roma came from behind to beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the Italian capital.
In other matches on Tuesday, the only German club remaining in the competition, Schalke 04, beat Porto 1-0 in Germany, while Chelsea were held to a goalless draw in Greece by Olympiakos Piraeus.
In Liverpool Serie A leaders Inter Milan were reduced to ten men after just 30 minutes after Marco Materazzi was rather harshly sent off for a second bookable offence after a foul on Fernando Torres.
However, last year's finalists struggled to make their numerical advantage count as Inter sat back and absorbed the pressure. The visitors had their first corner in the 68th minute, but were finally broken down five minutes from the end when Dutch striker Dirk Kuijt found the opening goal.
Captain Steven Gerrard scored a second in the last minute of the game to put the Premiership side into a commanding position ahead of the return leg.
In Rome the visiting side was the better for most of the game, but failed to capitalize on their chances, even though former Spanish striker Raul had given them an early eighth minute lead when he deflected a Guti shot past goalkeeper Doni.
Roma used their chances much better, equalizing in the 24th minute through David Pizarro, whose shot took a fortunate deflection off Fernando Gaga to give Iker Cassilas no chance in goal.
The second half continued much as the first, with the Spanish side pushing forward, but Brazilian Mancini scored the winner for the Serie A team after being set up by Francesco Totti.
Bundesliga club Schalke 04 had an ideal start at home against Porto as Kevin Kuranyi gave them the lead after goalkeeper Helton pushed a shot from Rafinha into the path of the Germany striker and he made no mistake from 12 metres.
Big-spending Premiership club Chelsea were held to a goalless draw in Greece by Olympiakos Piraeus.
Chelsea coach Avraham Grant started the match with just Didier Drogba upfront, but the Ivory Coast striker could do little against the compact Olympiakos defence.
Grant brought on French striker Nicolas Anelka and Drogba's compatriot Salomon Kalou with 15 minutes to go, but it was too late to find a winning goal.
The return legs are on 5 March, excepting the Inter game which will be played a week later.
Results of Tuesday's round of 16 first leg matches in the European Champions League. Kick-off times of Wednesday's matches in GMT.
Schalke 04 1 Porto 0 Liverpool 2 Inter Milan 0 Roma 2 Real Madrid 1 Olympiakos Piraeus 0 Chelsea 0
Playing Wednesday, February 20:
1945 Arsenal - AC Milan 1945 Celtic Glasgow - Barcelona 1945 Olympique Lyon - Manchester United 1945 Fenerbahce Istanbul - Sevilla