Soccer
PREVIEW: Inter Milan have third straight scudetto in their sights
By DPA
Apr 24, 2008, 15:25 GMT

Milan - Inter Milan are closing in on a third straight Serie A title as they welcome lowly Cagliari this weekend holding a six- point lead over second-placed Roma with four games to go.

The reigning champions have lost just two league games so far this season and could secure the scudetto even if they lose two more and Roma clinched the remaining 12 points on offer to them.

Serie A rules would award the scudetto to Inter in case of a tie at the top as they hold the upper hand in the direct clashes, boasting a 4-1 win in Rome and a 1-1 draw at home.

Roma are low in spirits after last weekend's 1-1 home draw to minnows Livorno, a disappointing game where captain Francesco Totti suffered a knee injury that will sideline him until the start of the next season.

Struggling Torino, who fought hard but lost 1-0 to Inter last weekend, are Roma's guests on Sunday, when third-place Juventus look to reduce their five-point deficit to Roma as they welcome Lazio.

Juve players learned this week that they are in for a bonus if they leapfrog Roma, thus managing to avoid a qualifying round in next season's Champions League and get a longer summer vacation.

'It's money that I'd be happy to spend,' said Juve's managing director Jean-Claude Blanc.

'We will try until the last whistle of the last game at Sampdoria,' coach Claudio Ranieri said. ''We must be focused and secure four wins, then we'll see. We'll look at the standings only in the end.'

The race for the coveted Champions League berths sees Fiorentina holding the fourth available one ahead of a home tie against Sampdoria.

Fiorentina hold a four-point lead on Samp and AC Milan, the reigning European champions who risk having to settle for one of two UEFA Cup berths.

Milan are away at Livorno, who appeared solid and gritty against Roma, before a high-voltage city derby with Inter on May 4.

Udinese can still hope for a UEFA Cup berth when they welcome Catania, Napoli host Tuscany side Siena and Genoa take on Empoli, who languish in the three-team drop zone alongside Reggina and Livorno.

Palermo and visitors Atalanta are safe in midtable when they meet in Sicily, while there is much at risk for hosting Reggina and Parma, who are decimated by suspensions and lie just one point above their opponents.