Zanetti determined to topple Milan to reopen the championship race

Jon Culley
Friday 20 February 2004 20:00 EST
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For Tonight at least, Roma and Juventus fans will be cheering fanatically for Internazionale. Should Inter defeat their city rivals Milan, and Roma and Juventus overcome Siena and Bologna respectively tomorrow, Italy's Serie A title race will be wide open.

For Tonight at least, Roma and Juventus fans will be cheering fanatically for Internazionale. Should Inter defeat their city rivals Milan, and Roma and Juventus overcome Siena and Bologna respectively tomorrow, Italy's Serie A title race will be wide open.

Little wonder then that Milan are determined to come out on top when local hostilities resume at the San Siro. Victory for Carlo Ancelotti's team would maintain a five-point lead over Roma.

The last time the two teams met, it was the Rossoneri who came out on top with an emphatic 3-1 league victory. But Inter hope to turn around their mediocre season and win the race for the fourth Champions' League place. "The time has come for us to find our best form," the Inter captain, Javier Zanetti, said.

Roma's task should not be too taxing against a Siena side who appear to be sinking fast, while Juventus travel to Bologna.

In Spain, all eyes will be on the referee Cesar Muniz Fernandez when he takes charge of Espanyol against Real Madrid tonight. Real remained top of the Primera Liga thanks to a controversial last-minute penalty given against Valencia in the Bernabeu stadium last week, when the majority opinion was that the referee, Pedro Tristante Oliva, buckled under pressure from the Madrid crowd.

Real will be forced to re-model their side with the central midfielders David Beckham and Guti both suspended.

Barcelona, who have moved into fourth, hope not to catch a backlash when they travel to Valencia, where supporters are organising a protest over Sunday's decision.

The draw between Real and Valencia allowed Deportivo La Coruña to close the gap at the top and they will be hoping to take three points from their visit to Atletico Madrid.

Werder Bremen are now nine points clear in the Bundesliga and will be eager to maintain their momentum when they visit Schalke today.

Auxerre believe the outcome of their next three matches, starting with the trip to Bastia today, will determine their season. Auxerre slid from second to fourth in the French title race after last Sunday's defeat against Lyon, who will look to keep the pressure on Ligue 1 leaders Monaco by beating Le Mans.

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