Roma close gap as Inter held

Milan: The Italian title race will go to the final weekend of the season as Christian Panucci and Daniele De Rossi scored Sunday to lead AS Roma to a 2-1 win over Atalanta and within one point of Serie A leader Inter Milan, who were held 2-2 at home by Siena.

Panucci headed in the first goal in the 23rd minute, and De Rossi scored from a free kick in the 67th that found the top corner of the net. Gianpaolo Bellini scored for Atalanta in the 88th.
Siena twice rallied from a goal down at the San Siro. Inter defender Marco Materazzi missed a penalty in the 78th minute that would have put the defending champions ahead 3-2.

“This failure by Inter was unexpected and gives us a chance to keep trying,” Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said.

Inter lead the league with 82 points, while Roma have 81. In the final round, Inter travel to Parma, who have to win to avoid relegation, and Roma play at Catania, who will be relegated if they lose and Parma win.

If Inter lose and Roma draw, both would finish with 82 points, but Inter have a better head-to-head record over Roma and would win their third straight Scudetto. “The last game will be 90 minutes of high tension and we'll keep our eye on what Parma is doing,” De Rossi said.

Inter clinched the title last year against Siena and it looked like it might happen again Sunday as the Nerazzurri jumped out to an early lead at San Siro when Patrick Vieira headed in a corner by Mario Balotelli. Materazzi had hit the crossbar with a header a minute earlier.

Massimo Maccarone levelled for Siena in the 30th, before Balotelli scored as time expired in the first half. Houssine Kharja, who used to play for Roma, equalised again in the 69th.

“We had many chances to score and close out the game, but unfortunately we didn't manage it and now we have to go to Parma and win,” Inter coach Roberto Mancini said.

“At the beginning of the second half, we could have gone up 3-1 and that would have closed out the game. Then we had the penalty we had our chances.”

Inter were again without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has scored 15 goals this year, but has not played since March 29 because of a lingering knee injury.

The Sweden striker may be back for the final game of the season and is expected to be fit for Euro 2008 next month.

Napoli beat AC Milan 3-1 and pushed the Rossoneri out of fourth place and the final spot in next season's Champions League. Milan can make the Champions League if they defeat Udinese and Fiorentina fail to win against Torino.

Fiorentina, who defeated Parma 3-1, have 63 points and Milan have 61.

“We still have a chance, but it no longer depends just on us,” Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

After battling for several months to reach fourth place, Milan got there last week by defeating Inter.

In Turin, third-place Juventus drew 1-1 with Catania on a goal in the 88th from Alessandro del Piero, his 19th of the year to give him a share of the league lead. Had Catania held on for the win, they would have been sure to avoid relegation.

In another key relegation battle, Reggina defeated Empoli 2-0 to ensure they will play in Serie A again next season. Empoli can avoid relegation if they win next week and both Parma and Catania lose.

Other results: Genoa 0, Lazio 2; Livorno 0, Torino 1; Palermo 0, Sampdoria 2; Udinese 0, Cagliari 2.