Inter host Roma in Serie A topper

 Unbeaten Inter hold a nine-point advantage over Roma, for whom defeat will likely end all title ambitions.

 "The game at San Siro will determine everything," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "It will be a crucial match. From its outcome we'll know what we can do as regards the final goal (the scudetto), even though their lead is still wide.

 "Unfortunately, we squandered a good chance against Juventus," he added in reference to a 1-0 defeat at the third-placed Turin club the previous weekend.

 Inter are coming off a 2-0 Champions League defeat at Liverpool and a meagre 1-1 league draw at Sampdoria. They have 60 points with 14 matches left to play and coach Roberto Mancini said that the coming weeks will detrmine their fate this season.

 "Once in a while you can also lose some points," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. "And this was a difficult game.

 "We do feel that this is a delicate moment. There are three difficult games ahead (with Roma, Napoli and Liverpool) and we have some more problems than at the start of the season.

 "But it's a fact that so far we are unbeaten and we still have a nine-point lead. There are times when things don't go as they should, but I'm not worried."

   Against Samp, Mancini rested his best strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz, who seemed to have lost their edge lately, but both should be back in the starting 11 on Wednesday.

 Another mouthwatering tie is set for Tuesday night in Turin, where Juve and Torino square off in a classic city-derby.

 Juve were bitter after a 2-1 defeat at lowly Reggina, which they blamed on some poor refereeing, but look to improve their game as they welcome back strikers David Trezeguet and Vincenzo Iaquinta.

 AC Milan are away to Catania Wednesday in their neck-to-neck battle with Fiorentina for the last of four available Champions League berths.

 The Florence side host struggling Livorno for a Tuscany derby, struggling Parma welcome sixth-place Udinese, who occupy a UEFA Cup berth but are chased by Sampdoria who are at Atalanta.

 Genoa host Napoli in a mid-table tie, while Palermo entertain troubled Empoli. Lazio take on second-last Reggina and Siena are desperate to stay away from the relegation zone when they welcome bottom side Cagliari.

DPA