Rome, Inter face challenges in Serie A
Friday, 23 April 2010
ROME, Apr 22 (AP): AS Roma's one-point lead over Inter Milan will be on the line Sunday when the Giallorossi host a Sampdoria side that is fighting to hold onto fourth place and the final Champions League berth.
A day earlier, Inter faces an Atalanta squad trying to climb out of the final spot in the relegation zone-and the match comes in between the two legs of Inter's Champions League semifinal with Barcelona.
Only three rounds remain in Serie A after this weekend.
Roma and Inter will also battle for the Italian Cup title on May 5.
Roma was beaten 1-0 by Udinese in the second leg of the semifinals Wednesday but advanced on 2-1 aggregate.
"Luckily this loss doesn't hurt that much," Roma coach Claudio Ranieri said. "The important thing is not to snap the streak in the league."
In Serie A, Roma is on a 24-game unbeaten run-with 18 wins and six draws- that has erased the club's 14-point deficit to Inter in October. In addition, Roma has won its last six games.
Sampdoria standout Antonio Cassano formerly played for Roma, but left in 2006 after a series of behavioural problems.
Roma captain Francesco Totti was not used against Udinese and should be fresh to face Sampdoria, having also been removed at halftime of last weekend's derby win over Lazio.
Inter, meanwhile, could be weary after posting an impressive 3-1 win over Barcelona on Tuesday. Jose Mourinho's men ran ragged for 90 minutes and suffocated the defending European champion with constant pressure.
A day earlier, Inter faces an Atalanta squad trying to climb out of the final spot in the relegation zone-and the match comes in between the two legs of Inter's Champions League semifinal with Barcelona.
Only three rounds remain in Serie A after this weekend.
Roma and Inter will also battle for the Italian Cup title on May 5.
Roma was beaten 1-0 by Udinese in the second leg of the semifinals Wednesday but advanced on 2-1 aggregate.
"Luckily this loss doesn't hurt that much," Roma coach Claudio Ranieri said. "The important thing is not to snap the streak in the league."
In Serie A, Roma is on a 24-game unbeaten run-with 18 wins and six draws- that has erased the club's 14-point deficit to Inter in October. In addition, Roma has won its last six games.
Sampdoria standout Antonio Cassano formerly played for Roma, but left in 2006 after a series of behavioural problems.
Roma captain Francesco Totti was not used against Udinese and should be fresh to face Sampdoria, having also been removed at halftime of last weekend's derby win over Lazio.
Inter, meanwhile, could be weary after posting an impressive 3-1 win over Barcelona on Tuesday. Jose Mourinho's men ran ragged for 90 minutes and suffocated the defending European champion with constant pressure.