On The Continent: Back Inter The Groove

INTER GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS
It hasn't been a great week and a bit for Roma recently. Last weekend they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Cagliari and lost Francesco Totti to an injury that ruled him out of their Champions League home defeat to Manchester United. Finally things started to go their way this weekend with a dramatic win over Genoa, but then they were knocked back down to earth by that rarest of all beasts - an Internazionale victory.

Ever since the champions and league leaders went to Anfield and were beaten 2-0 by Liveprool, they have floundered in Serie A, winning just two of their eight matches before yesterday's trip to Atalanta. That had given Roma the opportunity to close the gap between them and with their victory on Saturday it was down to just one point, so if Inter's struggles continued, then the Scudetto race was wide open.

However, Inter regained some of their form and composure with a 2-0 win at Atalanta, with Patrick Vieira and youngster Mario Balotelli getting the goals and Cristiano Doni being sent off for two late yellow cards for the home side. Roma's 3-2 win at Genoa a day later was much less straightforward, despite the Giallorossi racing into a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes through Rodrigo Taddei and Mirko Vucinic.

Two goals in the space of a minute just before the hour mark pulled Genoa level and it looked like Roma were still suffering the after-effects of their Champions League defeat until Daniele de Rossi's penalty kick ten minutes from time won it for the home side. They remain four points behind Inter, but Luciano Spalletti was delighted nonetheless: "We proved that we have real heart.