Inter Milan look to sew up third successive title

godtabh

Preview

MILAN, May 8 (Reuters) - Inter Milan have suffered a bruising week but all will be forgotten if they beat Siena at home on Sunday to retain their Serie A title.


The leaders could have sealed a third successive scudetto last weekend but a 2-1 derby defeat by AC Milan allowed second-placed AS Roma to close the gap to three points.

With two games remaining, Inter still only need one win because their better head-to-head record over Roma would be the deciding factor if they finished level on points.

The fallout from the derby defeat included club president Massimo Moratti and coach Roberto Mancini clashing over whether the side had been too cautious against Milan.

Media speculation that Mancini will soon leave continues but Wednesday's 2-0 win at Lazio in the Italian Cup semi-final second leg showed the team have not been adversely affected.

'If we play Siena with the same determination we will win the scudetto. Now we hope to recover the injured players, we need everyone's energy,' captain Javier Zanetti told Rai TV.

Defenders Cristian Chivu and Nicolas Burdisso are doubts for Sunday after going off at Lazio, while striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not expected to be fit due to knee trouble.

Centre back Marco Materazzi was sent off in Rome but he will be banned for the Cup final rather than the league.

Television replays also showed striker Julio Cruz punching Lazio's Aleksandar Kolarov while Mancini was sent to the stands, but any bans they receive are expected to be limited to the Cup.

Roma, who beat Sampdoria 3-0 last weekend, will again be ready to pounce on any Inter slip up when they host Atalanta.

However, Luciano Spalletti's men also know Inter only need to match Roma's result to take the title.

Roma are assured of at least second and Juventus will definitely finish third but the race for the final Champions league spot goes on with one point between Milan and Fiorentina.

The derby win lifted Milan into fourth but Sunday's tricky trip to Napoli will give fifth-placed Fiorentina hope when they entertain relegation-threatened Parma. Udinese host Cagliari Sampdoria visit Palermo in the battle for a UEFA Cup spot.

In the relegation scrap, bottom side Livorno will go down if they fail to win at home to Torino. Empoli and Parma will also drop if they lose at Reggina and Fiorentina respectively and Torino get a point and Catania beat Juventus.

Sunday, May 11, 2008
Time Home Away VENUE
14:00 UK Roma v Atalanta Stadio Olimpico
14:00 UK Udinese v Cagliari Stadio Friuli
14:00 UK Napoli v AC Milan Stadio San Paolo
14:00 UK Genoa v Lazio Comunale Luigi Ferraris
14:00 UK Reggina v Empoli Stadio Oreste Granillo
14:00 UK Palermo v Sampdoria Renzo Barbera
14:00 UK Juventus v Catania Calcio Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
14:00 UK Inter Milan v Siena Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
14:00 UK Livorno v Torino Armando Picchi
14:00 UK Fiorentina v Parma Artemio Franchi

Only one thing on my mind this week.

Inter need to win this game. Then its all over. It hasnt been a great week for them but I reckon they have this one in the bag

Mr. Presentable

Inter choke again. Even with the aid of another soft penalty award they don't have the bottle. Seems like the only way they can convince in the league is when the opposition is hobbled.

Though it pains me to say it, forza Roma, avanti Parma next week!

LeixlipRed

Interesting thing is that Parma and Catania (Inter and Roma's final opponents) have everything to play for. So no question of anyone rolling over. Though it is Italy so maybe I've spoken too soon...

godtabh

Inter hopefully will still do it. Not sure whats going on there. I reckon there is a lot of stuff going on in the background

yahoo_moe

Should be two good games alright next week to decide title and relegation... plus there's the Fiorentina/Milan battle for 4th. Interesting.

OhNoYouDidn't

kearnsr wrote: »

Inter hopefully will still do it. Not sure whats going on there. I reckon there is a lot of stuff going on in the background

No, they are just bottlers.

Quite simple really!

Forza Luppi

gucci

What do you make of this talk of Luis Figo running over a black cat being linked with the bad luck he brought on the team? See the link here

Do you think that that accusation was made sort of tongue in cheek and the whole thing has been blown out of proportion? or is it a genuine accusation?

What next? A news-paper linking someone of not wearing their lucky shorts and a poor streak in form?

delija_sever029

Well as i said it looked before this prelast round that all things are clear and now everything got complicated,battle for title,for staying in league and for 4th place,its going to be hell interesting next weekend