View on upcoming round
LONDON, April 19 (
www.DailySoccer.com)
Milan's clash with Roma at the San Siro takes centre-stage this weekend as the Scudetto enters its last three rounds.
Roma sit just two points behind leaders Inter, with Juventus a further point off the pace. The Italian title race is nothing if not tight.
Roma enter this clash on the back of a fine 3-1 win over Parma last weekend. It really was a fluent attacking display from Fabio Capello's men and one that could have brought five or six goals. Young Antonio Cassano, in particular, was wasteful in front of goal. Despite their blip, Roma have continued to excel at the Stadio Olimpico, it is just the away form that must be giving Capello cause for concern. Their match against already relegated Venezia looked a banker away win but they somehow found themselves two goals down and in the end were fortunate to take a draw from the game.
Milan are currently involved in a four-way battle for that remaining Champions League spot with Chievo, Bologna and Lazio. The Rossoneri are surely favourites to get it as well. After the Roma clash they face a struggling Verona and a more than likely already relegated Lecce.
The form of Filippo Inzaghi since his comeback from injury must be a boost for beleaguered coach Carlo Ancelotti. With Andriy Shevchenko experiencing his worst season in Serie A to date, and with Javi Moreno, Jose Mari and Marco Simone still failing to convince, Inzaghi's return is more than welcome. One wonders where Milan may have been had he not suffered that ligament injury against Chievo in December.
Chievo's home clash with Inter Milan is another mouth-watering affair and the Nerazzurri will be looking for payback for one of only two home defeats that the Flying Donkeys inflicted on them earlier this season. Luigi Del Neri's side were in rampant form in that pre-Christmas clash and could have registered three or four goals. Inter just couldn't cope with their abrasive style and swift counterattacking play.
To be sure of the title Inter may have to win their final three games. How unfortunate for poor Roma that their final clash happens to be against city rivals Lazio. Could Capello really bank on the Biancocelesti going out all guns blazing looking for the three points that would give his side the title? Well, perhaps if Alberto Zaccheroni's side are still chasing that last Champions League place, he could.
Juventus should by no means be ruled out of the equation and they face the least daunting trip of the three title challengers with a match at Piacenza. Walter Novellino's men are not yet safe from relegation but with five points separating themselves and the drop zone, Serie A football remains a likelihood for next season.
The Bianconeri have come back strongly after being ruled out of the race by all and sundry. They were six points off the pace but after that comprehensive 4-0 win at Perugia a couple of weeks ago as well as the narrow 1-0 victory over Milan last weekend, Marcello Lippi's side are right back in the thick of things. They were, though, more than a tad fortunate to beat the Rossoneri last time out after putting in a disappointingly disjointed performance. Jose Chamot's late own goal was a cruel blow indeed for a Milan side who'd given a good account of themselves up to that point.
Lazio have also enjoyed a turnaround in fortunes and are unbeaten in five matches. It can surely be no coincidence that now the team are achieving results, some of the frenzied speculation surrounding the future of their players has died down. It is no secret that Lazio are going to spend big in the summer (Olivier Dacourt and Mark van Bommel have both been linked) but suggestions that Alessandro Nesta and Hernan Crespo are going to leave the club seem to have subsided. Nesta was linked with Manchester united this week, but the chances of the English champions paying ?30million plus for a central defender seem thin to say the least.
This weekend Lazio entertain Verona in a match they should certainly win.
Elsewhere, Bologna travel to Perugia, while Parma face Atalanta looking to secure their Serie A status for next season.

:cap: