Can Roma upset Inter on final day?

There are 90 minutes remaining for the 2007/08 Serie A championship to come to an end. This season, contrary to recent campaigns, has lived up to expectations and proved to be really exciting with the title race going down to the wire.

Up to December, reigning champions Inter were sitting comfortably at the top of the standings, but with the change of the year their performances experienced a notable dip. Those who thought that the championship race was over by that time, were proven wrong.

Inter's premature exit from the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool was followed by a series of colourless displays in the Serie A. Unlike last season, nearest pursuers Roma remained within sights of Inter as the Nerazzurri started seeing their lead eaten away week after week by their determined pursuers.

With one game to go, Inter have a slim one-point lead at the top of the table but an eventual slip-up against Parma next weekend may cost them the title. The ghosts of the past are back to haunt Inter as on May 5, 2002, the Nerazzurri had lost to Juve in the title run-in after a shock defeat against Lazio. Argentine Hector Cuper, who was sacked by Parma late on Monday, was then Inter's coach.

To make matters worse for Inter, unlike last weekend's opponents Siena, Parma are in desperate need of points to avoid relegation. Even fourth-from-bottom Catania cannot afford to lose against Roma. With Empoli having a seemingly easy home fixture against demoted Livorno, Catania and Parma can both find themselves relegated if they lose their respective games and Empoli win. Gigi Cagni's side have the upperhand in the direct clashes.

One thing is for sure - it will be a thrilling Sunday for these five teams.

For what Inter have put on show this year, they simply do not deserve to remain champions. Roberto Mancini's side have collected a massive 12 points less with respect to a year ago. By stark contrast, Roma have improved by a remarkable nine. No mean feat for a club with a limited budget and who, like Inter, have gone all the way up to reaching their fourth successive Coppa Italia final.

Inter have a truly dire record at Parma's Tardini Stadium, where they have won only twice in 17 visits.

Even for Roma it will be all but easy to conquer Catania. These two sides have just crossed swords in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and Luciano Spalletti's side had to sweat to reach the final thanks to a slender 2-1 aggregate win.

Another issue to be decided on Sunday is who will fill the fourth vacant spot for a Champions League place next season between Fiorentina and Milan.

With Fiorentina enjoying a two-point advantage over Milan, the Viola start favourites and on Sunday they face a Torino side who have already retained their status in the Serie A. Milan host Udinese, who are already sure of a UEFA Cup berth.

There is a whole season's work and efforts at stake. The pressure is on.

Let us hope that it will be an incident-free weekend and only the best prevail. The stakes are high. Everything will be decided in the final 90 minutes.

Glory for the victors.

Serie A statistics

1 point separates under-pressure leaders Inter from nearest pursuers Roma with only 90 minutes to go. Roma beat Atalanta at home for the third successive year on Sunday. Their third straight win was never in jeopardy as they commanded operations practically from start to finish. The real surprise came from the San Siro as Siena twice came from behind to hold Inter 2-2. This was the second drawn result in five meetings between Inter and Siena. On the final day, Roma travel to Catania, now coached by ex-Inter keeper Walter Zenga, while Inter will cross swords with Parma who like Catania are still embroiled in the drop zone.

4th successive home win for Fiorentina against Parma as the Viola enhanced their chances of claiming a Champions League berth thanks to a comprehensive 3-1 victory. Almost 11 years have elapsed since the last time these two sides shared the spoils in Florence. Cesare Prandelli's side are now two points above Milan, who were surprisingly floored by mid-table Napoli down south. The final day fixtures are not favourable to Milan as Fiorentina travel to Torino, who are already home and dry, while Milan host Udinese. In a do-or-die relegation clash in Reggio Calabria, Reggina edged Empoli thanks to two second-half goals. This was Reggina's fourth win in five home encounters with Empoli, whose only win in the south dates back to March 2006 (2-0).

5th win for Torino, the first since October 10, 1948 (2-0), in 14 visits to Livorno as the Maroons made sure of survival thanks to an Alessandro Rosina goal. This was Torino's third away victory of the term after wins over Reggina (3-1) and Catania (2-1). With this defeat, Livorno became the first club to be relegated from the Serie A this season. Cagliari, too, confirmed their status thanks to a 2-0 away success over Udinese. This was the first ever win for Cagliari in 14 visits to the Friuli Stadium. Despite the setback, Udinese had already made sure of one of three UEFA Cup berths due to the fact that, for the fourth successive year, the Coppa Italia final will be contested by Inter and Roma, both contenders in the Champions League next season.

26 goals, equally shared between hosts and visitors, were scored last weekend. There were four away wins. Foreigners contributed with 11 goals while there were 10 first-half goals. Total number of goals scored so far amount to 938. Neither hat-tricks nor own goals were recorded. No braces were registered and there were two players, Franco Semioli (Fiorentina) and Gyorgy Garics (Napoli), who came on as substitutes and scored. Juve duo Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, together with Genoa's Marco Borriello, currently lead the scorers' list with 19 goals each. Marco Rossi (Parma) received marching orders. Of the two penalties taken last weekend, one was saved by the keeper. Marco Materazzi could have given Inter a dramatic late win over Siena had he scored from the spot. Elsewhere, Maurizio Domizzi (Napoli) scored from the 11 metres to help his side beat Milan for the first time since May 18, 1995 (1-0).

45 years have elapsed since Catania's only win in 10 visits to Turin against Juventus. On Sunday, the southerners were moments away from recording a useful win in Turin when Juve captain Alessandro Del Piero tucked in from close range a last-gasp equaliser. Had Catania held on to their lead, they would have made sure of survival as fellows-in-distress Parma and Empoli both lost. Sixth-placed Sampdoria returned to winning ways after a draw and a defeat thanks to two second-half goals. Walter Mazzarri's Samp have a staggering 10 points more than they had 12 months ago under Walter Novellino.