Rafa presence making Inter grow fonder

Rafa Benitez will be hoping to reinforce his nascent relationship with Inter when the champions travel to troubled Roma tonight.

The bulk of this weekend’s Serie A programme is taking place tomorrow, when the main highlight of the day is Cagliari’s trip to Turin to face Juventus.

Today, however, Inter have a chance to steal a march on their title rivals in the wake of showing the first real signs of possible domination. For city rivals Milan, the need for points is much greater.

Whereas Milan are struggling in 12th place after four matches and only one win, Inter are showing signs that they will be the team to beat this season, having won the league title and Champions League crown under Jose Mourinho.

Inter are one of only three teams to have won three of their four matches so far, and Benitez leads the Nerrazurri to Roma’s Olympic Stadium looking to punish a side which is already on the ropes.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, like Benitez a former manager in the English Premier League, spent most of last week blasting journalists after reports of a bust-up with star striker Francesco Totti.

The silver-haired Italian was given more cause for concern when Roma succumbed to a 2-1 defeat away to Brescia on Wednesday in a dramatic, and at times controversial, encounter which left them third bottom of the table.

Adding to their problems, Roma defender Philippe Mexes was sent off and banned for three matches and ‘keeper Sergio picked up an ankle ligament injury which has sidelined him for a month.

Inter’s health, in comparison, could not be ruder.

Benitez said last week he was unconcerned with the goal-shy attitude of Diego Milito, and the Argentine forward repaid that faith by scoring a brace in Inter’s 4-0 home demolition of Bari.

Samuel Eto’o also scored a brace to show that Inter’s attack is steadily coming round to match their astute defending. In four games Inter have scored eight, and conceded only twice.

It all must be pleasing on the eye for Inter president Massimo Moratti, although the Italian hinted in midweek he still hankered for the charismatic Mourinho.

Moratti compared Mourinho’s departure for Real Madrid to a “husband who had cheated on his wife but still loved her and, instead of owning up to her, sneaked out of the window and left her behind”.

Milan, meanwhile, host a Genoa side knowing they must take full advantage of playing in the San Siro if they are not to drop further off Inter’s pace, following a 1-1 draw away to Lazio.

Having finished third in Serie last season under former coach Leonardo, Massimiliano Allegri must be regretting the continued absence of Pato and captain Massimo Ambrosini, who both face another week on the sidelines.

Defeat or a draw for Inter, meanwhile, could see either Brescia or Chievo take the league lead. Both sides are only one point adrift, with Catania, Cesena and Lazio a further two points off the pace.

Brescia, however, face a potential banana skin in today’s early match away to Bari while Chievo host Lazio in Verona.

Serie A

Playing today
Milan vs Genoa 6 p.m.
Roma vs Inter 8.45 p.m.

Tomorrow – 3 p.m.
Bari vs Brescia
Catania vs Bologna
Cesena vs Napoli 12.30 p.m.
Chievo vs Lazio
Fiorentina vs Parma
Juventus vs Cagliari 8.45 p.m.
Palermo vs Lecce
Sampdoria vs Udinese

Standings: Inter 10; Brescia, Chievo 9; Catania, Cesena, Lazio 7; Cagliari 6; Napoli, Parma, Genoa, Bari, Milan, Sampdoria, Bologna 5; Juventus, Palermo, Lecce 4; Fiorentina, Roma 2; Udinese 0.

Serie B

Played yesterday
Piacenza vs Siena 0-1

Today – 3 p.m.
Atalanta vs Reggina
Crotone vs Sassuolo
Empoli vs Grosseto
Frosinone vs Varese
Novara vs Livorno
Padova vs AlbinoLeffe
Pescara vs Torino
Portogruaro vs Ascoli
Vicenza vs Cittadella

Monday – 8.45 p.m.
Modena vs Triestina

Leading standings: Siena 13; Novara 10; Ascoli 9; Atalanta 8; Sassuolo, Crotone, Reggina, Vicenza, Empoli, Torino, Porto-gruaro, Modena 7.