AS Roma Reignite Title Race With Win Over Inter

The joy on the faces of all Romanista was a delight to see after the victory over Internazionale at the Olimpico on Saturday night, giving the Claudio Ranieri fairytale the chance to reach a magical end.

For most of the season it was felt that AC Milan would be the main protagonists to challenge Inter for the Scudetto, but as the Milanese giants have wilted in recent weeks, AS Roma have gone on an amazing run, before the match twenty games unbeaten in Serie A.

It must be said that Serie A has been crying out for a title race, every other aspect of the league has been exciting other than the fact it was almost a near certainty that Inter would go on to lift another Scudetto.

Roma now have the wind in their sails, producing an excellent first half display against the Nerazzurri led by the superlative Daniele De Rossi. Despite Inter having the best of the play after the break, hitting the woodwork a number of times, Roma held on and even when Inter equalised, the Giallorossi show tremendous sprit and character to find the winning goal.

With only seven rounds remaining, each week becomes more and more important, but it has been said by many that Roma do have the less taxing run of fixtures.

Coming up at the weekend for Ranieri is a tricky away tie in Bari, a place where the home side have only lost twice this season and is somewhat of a fortress. Thus, Roma will have to be at the top of their game if Saturday was a mere flash in the pan result.

Following the trip to Bari, Ranieri and his gladiators face Atalanta at home, Lazio in the Rome Derby, relegation threatened Udinese, Champions League chasing Sampdoria, a Parma team safe from relegation and not in contention for Europe, Cagliari and finally the mighty Chievo at the fortress Bentegodi on the final day of the season.

Some tough fixtures indeed but ones that are all winnable. Some also of note, Roma captain and talisman Er Pupone, Francesco Totti has not been in the fold due to injury, forcing players such as Luca Toni, De Rossi and the magnificent David Pizzaro to step into the breach and provide inspiration when needed.

Roma can also count on the fact Inter have a number of tough fixtures still to contend with, such as a trip to Florence, a Juventus team struggling to get into fourth spot, a resurgent Lazio, along with ties against Bologna, Atalanta, Chievo and Siena.

This coupled with involvement in both the Coppa Italia and the Champions League will surely make Roma favourites for the Scudetto.

Jose Mourinho’s side are of course still the strongest side in Italy, one defeat does not change that, but their priority is European glory, which again could play into the hands of Claudio Ranieri and Roma.

We have a relegation dogfight, a race for fourth place featuring a five or six side and now thanks to Roma we have a title race to speak of.

Could we ask of any more from Serie A?