Unbeaten Inter look to end happy year on a high

Unbeaten Serie A leaders Inter close their best year for nearly two decades aiming to pick up their 11th straight victory when they face Atalanta at home this afternoon.

Inter went into 2006 searching for their first title since their win under the guidance of Giovanni Trapattoni in 1989 and finally got their hands on the "scudetto" thanks to the scandal which engulfed Italian football.

The probe into allegations of match-fixing resulted in Juventus being stripped of their last two titles with the 2005-06 championship eventually awarded to Inter, who had originally finished third.

With Inter also winning the Italian Cup last season, Roberto Mancini's side claimed a rare double but the pressure is still on the coach to deliver a title won purely on the field.

As the Italian season heads into the Christmas break, Inter are well on course to achieve that goal - they have a seven point lead over Roma, their only credible challengers this season.

Inter have 45 points from 14 wins and three draws from their 17 games - with Roma second on 38 and Palermo third with 34. Sampdoria lead the chasing pack - but are 11 points adrift.

Their advantage means Inter have already secured the symbolic prize of being "Winter Champions" - leaders at the half way stage in the season - a status that more often than not eventually leads to the real title.

"The statistics say that the team that is on top halfway tends to end up winning the league so I hope we're not an exception," said Mancini after his team continued their impressive form with a 2-0 win at Lazio despite being down to ten men for all the second half.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's red card for dissent means he will miss the game against Atalanta with Brazilian Adriano likely to be recalled to start alongside Argentine Hernan Crespo in attack.

Roma, who won 2-1 at Torino on Wednesday, will expect to end the year in winning fashion against out-of-sorts Cagliari at the Olympic stadium.

Despite Inter's form, Roma coach Luciano Spalletti believes his side can take over top spot during the second part of the campaign.

"Inter have been in amazing form but we have done well to keep in touch with them and we can make up seven points difference," said the former Udinese coach.

Third-placed Palermo, who got back to winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Ascoli, are away to Siena while Sampdoria hope to strengthen their grip on fourth place away to Catania.

Despite a poor season so far, Milan are now just six points away from Sampdoria and with fourth spot bringing a shot at qualification for next season's Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti's side have plenty left to play for.

Milan end the year with a tough test, however, away to Udinese.

Top scorers

12 goals Totti (Roma)
9 goals Riganò (Messina), Mutu (Fiorentina), Quagliarella (Sampdoria)

Next fixtures

Playing today - 15.00
Ascoli vs Chievo
Catania vs Sampdoria
Fiorentina vs Messina
Inter vs Atalanta
Livorno vs Torino
Parma vs Lazio
Reggina vs Empoli
Roma vs Cagliari
Siena vs Palermo
Udinese vs Milan

Saturday, January 13
Empoli vs Parma 18.00
Torino vs Inter 20.30

Sunday, January 14 - 15.00
Atalanta vs Livorno
Cagliari vs Ascoli
Chievo vs Catania
Lazio vs Siena 20.30
Messina vs Roma
Milan vs Reggina
Palermo vs Udinese
Sampdoria vs Fiorentina