Roma refocusing on League
It's back down to domestic business and reeling in Inter Milan for AS Roma this weekend as they try to close the gap at the top of Serie A.
Roma host Genoa on Saturday and could close to within a point of the leaders ahead of Inter's tricky trip to Atalanta a day later.
The capital-based club will be looking to bounce back from Tuesday's morale-crushing 2-0 home defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League, virtually ending their interest in that competition for this season.
While their confidence may be low, they will know that their Serie A hopes are still very much alive and a victory is vital to heap pressure on the out-of-form champions.
Inter have won only two of their last nine matches in all competitions, losing four times.
They have seen their lead over second-placed Roma cut from 11 to four points while Liverpool beat them home and away in knocking them out of the Champions League.
What's more, Inter are playing a team coming off the back of a highly-impressive 2-1 victory at AC Milan last week.
Inter's Argentine striker Hernan Crespo knows the pressure is on and said his team need to concentrate on themselves.
"It's like for a cyclist, we have to keep looking in front because if you look behind they will overtake you," he said.
"However, we're in the middle of a difficult period. Getting knocked out of the Champions League was a bitter pill to swallow but now the old Inter is coming back."
Crespo believes that there is more pressure on Roma, who are split between concentrating on the league and on Europe, while they also have Juventus chasing them for second place.
"Roma have many enemies because they're looking ahead but others are coming up from behind and they need to be careful," he added.
"We just need to concentrate on ourselves. If we do that it won't matter what anyone else does. We will get back on the right path, the one with many victories."
The other important battle in Serie A is taking place in the race for fourth spot where Fiorentina hold a three point lead over Udinese, with Milan and Sampdoria a further point behind.
La Viola entertain lowly Reggina on Sunday, Udinese are away to Siena, Sampdoria host Livorno and Milan welcome Cagliari.
Milan have the added worry of coming off the back of two successive home defeats and the fact that Cagliari, while in the relegation zone, are still one of the form teams of the moment.
Fixtures
Saturday
AC Milan v Cagliari, Roma v Genoa
Sunday
Atalanta v Inter Milan, Catania v Napoli, Fiorentina v Reggina, Palermo v Juventus, Parma v Lazio, Sampdoria v Livorno, Siena v Udinese, Torino v Empoli
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