Home debacle exposes Roma's shortcomings

Inter played like true champions last Saturday as they demolished Roma 4-1 to take sole leadership in the Serie A standings.

Their resounding victory and performance came three days after the Nerazzurri's comprehensive 3-0 home victory over Sampdoria in a midweek league match. Inter, the reigning champions, shot to the top of the league and, judging by the manner of their victories, it seems the side is back to winning form.

Roma started the day as joint leaders with Inter and the likely favourites to grab the three points. Their free-flowing football had won them many a neutral admirer lately, including UEFA president and ex-Juve stalwart Michel Platini.

Since the season curtain-raiser - the Italian Super Cup final against Inter at the San Siro - Roma were in commanding form.

Luciano Spalletti's men edged Inter in that August contest to start the campaign on a high.

Then, they also overcame Palermo (2-0), Siena (3-0) and Reggina (2-0) in the Serie A and Dynamo Kiev (2-0) in the Champions League without conceding a goal.

Such a fantastic start, in stark contrast with the stuttering openings of Inter, Milan and Juventus, immediately catapulted Roma to the top of the Serie A. That winning series also convinced some pundits Roma were the ones likely to take the mantle off champions Inter.

But, unluckily for Roma, things soon changed for the worse.

Against Juventus and Fiorentina in the league they dominated for long stretches but could not finish off their opponents and, on both occasions, they conceded late equalisers to drop vital points.

'Killer goals'

In these matches, Roma continued to play attacking football but were found wanting when in need to score the 'killer goals'.

Although identical back-to-back 2-2 draws against Juventus and Fiorentina signalled an early warning for Roma, they still started Saturday's home clash with Inter in confident mood.

But Inter coach Roberto Mancini showed his tactical astuteness by deploying a prudent 4-5-1 formation that gave Roma few openings, especially from the flanks.

Spalletti's men were never allowed to play their usual game because Inter, despite some key absentees, were solid all the way.

It was here that Roma found themselves in real difficulty as they did not vary tactics - a 'B Plan'.

It would have been interesting on Saturday had Roma played with 11 men all match to know whether or not the Giallorossi would have changed the pattern of their game particularly after the break.

But that's all history now. One upset will surely not derail Roma's campaign and entertaining play. Spalletti's creed has always been to play flowing football and like that it will stay with him around.

No one really knows where this team will go this season. But one thing is for sure - Roma will have to instil the 'goal-killing instinct' in them to make inroads and reach a higher level.

Up to now, Roma badly lack in this respect. So, that makes their road to success steeper and more difficult than the other contenders for the honours in Italy.

Serie A statistics

1st defeat for Roma as the Giallorossi were trounced 4-1 by champions Inter at the Olympic Stadium last weekend. Against all predictions, Inter not only left the capital with the three points in their bags for the second year running, but in so doing, they have confirmed that they, and not Roma, are the team to beat in the Serie A this season. Sampdoria handed high-fliers Atalanta their first defeat of the Serie A as they returned to winning ways following a barren run of two draws and two defeats. These two sides last shared the spoils at the Marassi on January 8, 1989 (1-1). A strong second-half performance saw Gigi Cagni's Empoli come from behind to beat fellow UEFA Cup hopefuls Palermo for the second successive year.

2nd win for Fiorentina in 13 visits to Livorno's Armando Picchi Stadium as the Viola cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory to leave their lowly city neighbours in bottom place. Fiorentina and Inter are the only sides still undefeated this season. At the wrong side of the table, Livorno, Reggina, Siena and Torino are still in search of their first win. Reggina threw away an early lead as they shared the spoils with Lazio for only the second time in eight meetings at the Oreste Granillo Stadium. For Lazio, this was their second positive result in a row in Reggio Calabria following last year's 3-2 win at the same venue.

3rd successive 1-1 home draw for Milan as the reigning European champions came from a goal down to share the spoils with Catania. For the record, this was only Catania's third draw in 11 visits to the San Siro to play Milan. Following the weekend results, Milan have already slipped to seven points behind leaders Inter. Behind closed doors at the San Paolo, Genoa extended their unbeaten run to five games (three draws and two straight wins) as they left it late to beat hosts Napoli by the odd goal in three. This was Napoli's first upset after three wins and a draw.

5 penalties were awarded by referees last weekend. All were scored. Kaka grabbed an early second-half equaliser for Milan against Catania. Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Inter a head start at the Olympic Stadium as he ably converted a 28th-minute penalty. Igli Vannucchi made Empoli's first win of the term even more comprehensive as he scored from the 11 metres deep into stoppage time. Pasquale Foggia hit the back of the net from the spot after only seven minutes as Cagliari edged troubled Siena 1-0 in Sardinia. Marco Giampaolo's Cagliari benefited from the highest number of penalties so far - four (all scored by Foggia). Maurizio Domizzi grabbed a temporary equaliser for Napoli in their 1-2 home upset against Genoa by converting a 54th-minute penalty. Meanwhile, there were two coaches - Nando Orsi (Livorno) and Mimmo Di Carlo (Parma) - who were ordered off the bench. For the second league day running, there were four players who saw red - Caserta (Palermo), Loviso (Livorno), Modesto (Reggina) and Giuly (Roma).

12 years have elapsed since Torino's most recent win against Juventus in a derby which they hosted as on Sunday Juve striker David Trezeguet grabbed the all-important goal deep into stoppage time. For Juventus this was their fourth win of the term, whereas ambitious Torino, who together with Milan are arguably the biggest underachievers so far, are still winless and are only one point above the relegation zone. Udinese came from behind to beat Parma 2-1. Had Parma held on to their lead, they would have recorded their first win at the Friuli Stadium since March 18, 2001 (3-1). A solitary Pasquale Foggia penalty goal was enough for Cagliari to see off struggling Siena. The Tuscany side have no wins to show from their four visits to Sardinia. Current Siena coach Andrea Mandorlini has still to record his first win in 20 matches in charge of a Serie A outfit.

27 goals were scored on the sixth day: 13 coming from the hosts and the remaining 14 from the visitors, who managed four victories. Foreigners contributed with 13 goals while there were eight first-half goals. Total number of goals scored so far is 155. Former Lecce striker Pablo Osvaldo grabbed the only brace as Fiorentina cruised to a resounding away win over city neighbours Livorno. Napoli centre-half Paolo Cannavaro - brother of last year's Golden Ball winner Fabio - committed the only own goal of the day. No fewer than seven players - Cruz, Crespo (both Inter), Quagliarella (Udinese), Cassano, Sammarco (both Sampdoria), Sculli (Genoa) and Giovinco (Empoli) - came on as substitutes and scored. David Trezeguet (Juventus) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter) currently lead the scorers' list with seven goals each.