Inter resume control in Italy

UEFA Champions League finalists FC Internazionale Milano ended a memorable week on another high, reclaiming the Serie A lead from AS Roma thanks to a 2-0 success at S.S. Lazio.

Having reached their first European Champion Clubs' Cup showpiece in 38 years by eliminating FC Barcelona on Wednesday, Inter reinstated their two-point domestic advantage over rivals Roma, who defeated Parma FC 2-1 on Saturday. Walter Samuel opened the scoring with a header at the end of the first half and Thiago Motta followed suit 20 minutes from time to leave the titleholders well-placed with two games remaining.

There was disappointment for Juventus, on the other hand, as their 1-1 draw at Calcio Catania put a definitive end to their top-four prospects. Alberto Zaccheroni's men needed a win keep alive their slim UEFA Champions League qualifying hopes but they fell behind to Matías Silvestre's goal on 24 and could not carve out a winner once Claudio Marchisio had levelled the scores seven minutes after the break.

As a result, the Bianconeri lie seventh, eight points adrift of fourth with two games remaining. Current incumbents UC Sampdoria look favourites to clinch the last UEFA Champions League qualifying berth after they maintained their two-point lead over US Città di Palermo by downing already-relegated AS Livorno Calcio 2-0. Only Palermo can catch the Genoa outfit now as their 2-1 win at AC Siena kept them in touch and confirmed the second-bottom side's demotion.

One spot above Siena, ten-man Atalanta BC missed the chance to boost their survival prospects at home against fourth-bottom Bologna FC. The hosts lost Maximiliano Pellegrino to a 47th-minute red card but looked set to secure a 1-0 win until Federico Peluso's own goal eight minutes from time kept Bologna five points better off. In the day's other games, SSC Napoli climbed up to sixth by triumphing 2-1 at AC Chievo Verona, Cagliari Calcio and Udinese Calcio drew 2-2 and AS Bari defeated Genoa CFC 3-0.