Lazio and Milan the likely favourites

Inter's quest for a 'second successive' league championship was never put in discussion this season. Roberto Mancini's team are in a class of their own in the Serie A ever since the campaign got underway in September.

Inter have been widening their lead at the top almost every weekend now. At present, they are enjoying an impressive 16-point advantage over nearest rivals Roma. These two teams meet in Milan on April 18.

On the other hand, the fight for Champions League places is getting tighter and tighter with five teams battling it out for the remaining two slots behind Inter and Roma.

Up to a few weeks ago, many thought Palermo were already sure of their place in the 2007/08 Champions League. But a dip in form saw them forfeiting priceless points. They are now feeling the pressure of a resurgent Lazio who seem a good bet to finish among the top four at the end of the season.

Since the victory over Catania in a turbulent derby on February 2, Palermo have only managed three draws and two defeats. They are only a shadow of the team that impressed so much in the first phase of the championship.

During their dark patch, which started with a 0-4 drubbing to Roma on the 16th day, Palermo showed they can't do without prolific Brazilian striker Carvalho Amauri. However, apart from the ex-Chievo forward's absence, other factors are contributing to Palermo's nosedive.

After a brilliant start, key players seem to be resting on their laurels now.

Players like Eugenio Corini and Fabio Simplicio are not making the difference any more in midfield. The defence has suddenly become porous and the attack almost blunt.

Palermo dropped points against less-quoted sides and after the weekend fixtures, they are now only two points ahead of fourth-placed Lazio, with the latter having a game in hand (home vs Chievo).

Lazio, fresh from a run of four straight wins, have been going from strength to strength ever since coach Delio Rossi infused a winning mentality in his team. There is a great self-belief within their clan that Lazio will make it to the top four.

The Rome club will do well to leapfrog Palermo and make sure of their placing because Milan and Fiorentina are also vying for fourth spot.

And what about Empoli?

Gigi Cagni's underdogs have the luxury of playing without pressure.

If missing a Champions League slot for the other contenders signifies a big failure in terms of prestige and revenue, for Empoli, bracketed by many among those sides fighting to stay in the Serie A, it is already a big feat that they are challenging for a higher objective, unthinkable of up to a few months ago.

But, Milan still remain the most experienced and equipped side in this sort of mini-league, albeit one has to see to which extent will their involvement in the Champions League affect their performances in the Serie A.

Considering that Milan's game in hand with respect to Palermo is away to bottom side Ascoli, then the Rossoneri, and Lazio, look favourites to join Inter and Roma in next season's top European competition for clubs.

But one should not discard Fiorentina. They are playing the best and most entertaining football in the Serie A at present.

Fiorentina are getting the desired results and at the same time scoring goals. Had they not been penalised 15 points, then they would be third on their own, five points ahead of Palermo with a game in hand.

From now on everything can still happen in the upper echelons of the Serie A standings.

The remaining direct clashes will shed more light on the race for Europe even though the favourites still remain Lazio and Milan.

Serie A statistics

1st win for Empoli in seven Serie A visits to Udine as Gigi Cagni's side hit an early winner to pursue with their quest for a Champions League slot. Relegation-haunted Messina created perhaps the biggest upset of the day as they beat city neighbours Palermo by two clear goals. This defeat confirmed Palermo's dire record in Messina where they have never prevailed in three Serie A visits.

2nd home defeat (following their 0-2 reverse against Chievo on the 14th day) for inconsistent Livorno, who conceded an early lead to go down to Inter. Livorno have not beaten Inter at home since November 16, 1947 (3-2). Following this defeat, Daniele Arrigoni's side have now slipped to only six points above the relegation zone. With respect to a year ago, Livorno have 16 points less under their belt. Roma fell further off Inter's pace as they could only share the spoils with bottom side Ascoli. Roma have exactly the same points they had after 26 games last season.

3 players - Pereira Da Silva Adriano (Atalanta), Douglas Maicon (Inter) and Andrea Caracciolo (Palermo) - were sent off by referees in the past weekend. Furthermore, Chievo mentor Luigi Del Neri was ordered off his bench in his side's debacle vs Milan at the San Siro. There were also four penalties awarded by referees on Saturday and Sunday. Adrian Mutu failed to convert an 86th-minute penalty in Fiorentina's 5-1 win over Torino. Cristiano Doni's execution went wide as Atalanta's miserable run continued in a 0-2 upset at Cagliari. Giuseppe Rossi was again Parma's protagonist. In the first half, his penalty was blocked by Reggina's Andrea Campagnolo. Deep into stoppage time, with Parma still trailing 1-2, Rossi transformed a last-gasp penalty to make up for his first-half blunder.

4 consecutive away defeat (vs Parma 0-1, Lazio 0-2, Chievo 0-3 and Fiorentina 1-5) hindered Torino's slow climb towards safety. On Sunday, Torino were no match for Fiorentina who extended their unbeaten run to six games (five wins and a draw). Almost 31 years have now elapsed since Torino's most recent of nine wins in 61 Serie A visits to the Artemio Franchi stadium. Milan, with no defeats in their last 15 outings (nine wins and six draws), came from a goal down to overcome Chievo 3-1 at the San Siro. The Verona-based outfit only have two draws to show from their six Serie A visits to Milan.

4th straight win for buoyant Lazio (vs Torino 2-0, Cagliari 2-0, Catania 3-1 and Sampdoria 1-0) as the team from the capital edged mid-table Sampdoria by a solitary Tommaso Rocchi goal to extend their unbeaten run to nine games (six wins and three draws). Lazio and Sampdoria have last shared the spoils in Rome on February 1, 2004 (1-1). Also, Sampdoria's most recent of eight wins in 42 Serie A visits to Lazio dates back to January 23, 2005 (2-1). In an end-to-end clash, Parma left it late to salvage a priceless home draw vs Reggina. This was the first drawn result between these two sides in seven Serie A meetings at the Tardini stadium. The southerners have last conquered Parma away on December 20, 2003 (2-1).

9th winless game on the trot for Catania (three draws and six defeats) as the southerners gave away a narrow lead to share the spoils with Siena in the two teams' first ever encounter in the top flight. Siena are without a win in their last six outings (three draws and three defeats). Marco Giampaolo's Cagliari returned to winning ways after a barren run of one draw and four defeats as they beat Atalanta 2-0 in Sardinia. The Bergamo team's only win in 15 Serie A visits to the Sant'Elia Stadium dates back to November 15, 1964 (1-0). Moreover, Atalanta have now gone six games without a win (four draws and two defeats).

27 goals were scored on the 27th day: 18 coming from the hosts and the remaining nine from the visitors. Foreign players contributed with six goals while there were 15 first-half goals last weekend. Total number of goals scored so far amount to 649. Torino's Ivan Franceschini committed the only own goal of the day. Four players - Luca Toni, Alessandro Gamberini (both Fiorentina), Rolando Bianchi (Reggina) and Christian Riganò (Messina) - grabbed a brace each. Clarence Seedorf (Milan) and Simone Pepe (Cagliari) came on as substitutes and scored. Roma's Francesco Totti still leads the scorers' list with 16 goals (three from penalties). Last season's top marksman Luca Toni follows closely on the 15-goal mark. Messina and Parma still have to record an away win. Inter boast the best scoring record in Serie A with 57 goals and Lazio have the tightest defence with only 19 goals conceded so far.