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Inter Milan gunning to get back to winning ways
ROME (AFP) - Inter Milan will be gunning to get back to winning ways and for AS Roma to slip up to finally seal the Serie A title on Sunday at Siena.
Inter's bid to claim their second straight Scudetto was put on hold midweek when a 3-1 loss to second-placed Roma at the San Siro ended their season-long unbeaten run.
After back-to-back draws against Palermo and relegation-threatened Reggina, the champions campaign seems to be stuttering.
But with a 13-point advantage on Roma, and six games remaining, Roberto Mancini's men can wrap up the title this weekend if they beat Siena in Tuscany and Roma lose at Lombardy outfit Atalanta.
Mancini is confident they can do the job despite the absence of Adriano, who is sitting out a two-match suspension for simulating a foul by Roma goalie Doni which resulted in a penalty which Inter converted Wednesday.
"What happened against Palermo and Roma we will take note of against Siena," warned Mancini.
"Now we have to stay calm and try to finish it off as soon as possible."
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti admitted that he would be happy with a draw and to take the title at home to Empoli the following week.
"Just getting these points is enough for me," he told Inter Milan's website.
"What happened may have been due to the crowd's expectation. In any case, it's hard to be angry with the players over one match because they have played thirty-one good matches."
But Argentine international Esteban Cambiasso believes that only a win will do. "We must go to Siena with the tranquillity we have always had, and try to win again immediately," the midfielder said.
"We just have to think that we only need a few points to finish it off. We must recover our strength and react."
Roma, meanwhile, are riding high after bouncing back from their humiliating 7-1 Champions League exit to Manchester United just over a week ago with a 4-0 win at Sampdoria followed by their victory over Inter.
"We won't talk about that again," said Roma captain Francesco Totti of the Old Trafford debacle.
"That was an episode which unfortunately will remain part of our history. But we've bounced back, and quickly."
Lazio, sitting third 11 points behind Roma, had to settle for a goalless draw at home to Chievo Wednesday, and are desperately looking to put further distance between themselves and AC Milan when they host Fiorentina.
AC Milan, are a further four points back, and coming off wins from their last three games and securing a spot in the Champions League semi-finals.
They host 13th-placed Cagliari Saturday determined to avoid the lapses in concentration which allowed tailenders Ascoli steal two goals during AC Milan's 5-2 victory midweek.
Palermo and Empoli, in fifth and sixth, are four points behind AC Milan and both looking to continue their push for elite European football next season.
Empoli host Torino, while Palermo play at third-from-bottom Parma.
As the scramble against relegation enters the home straight, Parma are five points ahead of Messina who travel to Sampdoria.
Ascoli with just three wins this season look destined for the drop.
They need to beat Catania, who are just four points above the drop zone, on Sunday in a match being played at the neutral venue of Modena.
Saturday
Sampdoria v Messina
AC Milan v Cagliari
Sunday
Atalanta v Roma
Catania v Ascoli at Modena
Chievo v Livorno
Empoli v Torino
Lazio v Fiorentina
Reggina v Udinese
Siena v Inter Milan
Palermo v Parma
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