Two for sorrow in Serie A

Oh so close 
Internazionale FC approach the last day of the season leading Juventus FC by a point and AS Roma by two. And as happened in the two previous campaigns, the title's destination will be decided in Rome. Inter go to the Olimpico to face an S.S. Lazio side desperate for the points that will gain them either the fourth UEFA Champions League place or a UEFA Cup berth. Inter's need is greater, however: victory will secure their first Scudetto in 13 years.

Vieri back for big one 
The Nerazzurri welcome back Christian Vieri and Marco Materazzi for the big match. But Lazio continue to suffer for the injuries which have pockmarked their season. In what could be his final game as coach, Alberto Zaccheroni is without midfielder Lucas Castroman with a serious back injury and Hernán Crespo, Claudio López and Gaizka Mendieta with minor niggles.

Inter's lead cut 
It is the acid test of Inter's championship credentials. Héctor Cúper's side have seen their advantage cut by five points in four weeks. By contrast, Juventus are full of belief having claimed four wins and eleven goals in that time. The Turin club also have the safer assignment - against an Udinese Calcio team free from relegation fears.

Free-scoring Juventus 
Juve have a strong case for lifting the Serie A trophy that has eluded them since 1998. They have scored the most goals (62) and conceded the fewest (23), and in Pavel Nedved they have the man voted player of the year by pay-TV broadcaster Telepiù. But should they miss out, they at least have a second chance of silverware when they take a 2-1 lead to Parma AC in the return leg of the Italian Cup final.

Roma's slim hopes 
The third team in the equation are Roma, the holders. They travel to Torino Calcio more in hope than expectation as they can only reclaim the title if both Inter and Juve fail to win. Torino have a slim chance of glory themselves with the possibility of a UEFA Intertoto Cup place, though their supporters would not want to do Juventus any favours. The same applies to the Lazio fans and Roma.

Race for fourth place 
Nor does the tension end there. Milan AC, Bologna FC and AC Chievo Verona are embroiled with Lazio in the race for fourth position. While the former two clubs are level on points, Milan's home fixture against relegated US Lecce looks easier than Bologna's trip to Brescia Calcio. With AC Venezia, AC Fiorentina and Lecce already down, Roberto Baggio and company occupy the last available relegation place. The teams directly, and two points, above them, Piacenza FC and Hellas-Verona FC, meet in what may yet amount to a relegation play-off.

Blues brothers 
The only certainty is that it will all end on Sunday - leaving at least two clubs with a serious case of the blues.