Inter Milan is facing one of the key weekends of its campaign as it
bids to land a fifth successive Serie A title.
Jose Mourinho's team plays AS Roma knowing a win would put it
seven points clear of its nearest rival with seven matches
remaining. A victory for Roma, though, would move Claudio Ranieri's
side to within a point of Inter and give fresh hope to both the
side from the capital and third-place AC Milan.
Inter beat Livorno 3-0 on Wednesday to move onto 63 points
while Roma defeated Bologna 2-0 to remain four points behind the
leader. Milan is behind Roma on goal difference after its 1-0
defeat at Parma.
"It has been very impressive what Roma has done," Inter
defender Ivan Cordoba said. "Because of this, we have to keep
moving forward and not give them any hope. It will all come down to
what we do."
The victory over Livorno was only Inter's second in seven
league matches but despite that lean run of form, neither Roma nor
Milan have been able to capitalize.
"We hope that the crisis is over," Cordoba said.
Roma has got its season back on track with back-to-back wins
just when it seemed its campaign was about to fizzle out following
three consecutive draws that allowed Milan to pull clear in second.
"Being in this position is a result of the sacrifice and work
of the lads," Ranieri said. "Now we are on the home straight and
playing the game of the season against the omnipotent Inter."
In the past, Roma has been overly reliant on its captain
Francesco Totti but with the World Cup-winning forward having been
sidelined by a knee injury, a number of players have stepped up to
make important contributions. Striker Mirko Vucinic, for example,
scored a hat-trick in the recent win over Udinese.
"I still don't know if Totti will play," Ranieri said. "He
says he is always ready, but we will have to see."
Despite its loss to Parma, Milan is still in a position to
make a challenge, but appears to be lacking the mental strength to
overtake its city rival.
Milan had the chance to go top with a win at home to Napoli
last weekend but failed to create many chances and drew 1-1.
"We are level with Roma and we can still catch Inter," Milan
coach Leonardo said. "I can't complain about how we are playing -
we are just not clinical enough. I want us to stay true to
ourselves as we cannot change our style of play.
"We have had a lot of highs and lows this season and the team
has always come back," he said. "With this in mind, I'm staying
calm. I still believe. What will happen between Inter and Roma will
happen; we just have to think about ourselves."
Also this weekend, it is; Palermo vs. Bologna; Chievo Verona
vs. Parma; Fiorentina vs. Udinese; Juventus vs. Atalanta; Livorno
vs. Bari; Napoli vs. Catania; Sampdoria vs. Cagliari and Siena vs.
Genoa.
