Inter keen to win again

Inter, whose record sequence of 17 successive Serie A victories was ended by Udinese in midweek, will be keen to get back to winning ways at Livorno today.

Coach Roberto Mancini almost seemed relieved after Inter's spectacular run was ended by a 1-1 home draw on Wednesday.

"Eventually you begin to feel the pressure, if only subconsciously," Mancini told La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.

"When you play a match every three days or so, you inevitably lose some of your sparkle."

Second-placed Roma failed to capitalise on Inter's draw with Udinese as they were held 2-2 at Chievo to remain 14 points adrift of the leaders.

"The important thing for me was not the record but the points," said Mancini.

"The gap between ourselves and Roma has stayed the same. Now we just need to focus on winning again at Livorno."

More worrying for Mancini was an injury to Brazilian striker Adriano, who limped off clutching his left thigh in the first half on Wednesday.

Inter will also be without injured duo Patrick Vieira and Esteban Cambiasso against mid-table Livorno.

Roma's draw with relegation-threatened Chievo will have shaken their confidence ahead of today's trip to bottom club Ascoli.

Only a superb performance by captain Francesco Totti saved Roma from defeat in Verona, the Italian international's two goals consolidating his position as the league's top scorer this season with 16.

Behind the top two, the race for the third and fourth Champions League berths is opening up.

Palermo's 0-0 draw with Milan in midweek left them five points ahead of fourth-placed Lazio, who in turn have Empoli and Milan breathing down their necks.

Palermo have only picked up seven points from their last seven matches and face a tricky game against Sicilian neighbours Messina tomorrow.

Milan host Chievo this evening. Coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed his team's display against Palermo as their best this season.

Palermo's experienced goalkeeper Alberto Fontana made several fine saves, including a penalty stop, to salvage a point for the home side.

"Fontana did extremely well," said Ancelotti.

"Now there are four teams in the running for two (Champions League) places and we are improving match by match."

Serie A

Playing Today
Ascoli vs Roma (2-2) 15.00
Livorno vs Inter (1-4) 15.00
Milan vs Chievo (1-0) 20.30

Tomorrow - all 15.00
Cagliari vs Atalanta (3-3)
Catania vs Siena (1-1) in Rimini
Fiorentina vs Torino (1-0)
Lazio vs Sampdoria (0-2)
Messina vs Palermo (1-2)
Parma vs Reggina (2-3)
Udinese vs Empoli (1-1)

Serie B

Playing Today - 15.00
AlbinoLeffe vs Brescia (1-1)
Bari vs Arezzo (1-0)
Cesena vs Bologna (1-1)
Frosinone vs Venezia (2-1)
Genoa vs Lecce (2-3)
Modena vs Rimini (1-1)
Napoli vs Spezia (1-0)
Treviso vs Crotone (2-0)
Verona vs Pescara (0-0)

Tomorrow - 20.30

Juventus vs Piacenza (2-0)

Monday - 21.00

Mantova vs Triestina (0-0)