Relegation battle tighter than ever

The title race in Italy is practically over. Juventus took over the mantle of champions from Milan after they prevailed in the decisive encounter at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium earlier this month.

But if further proof was needed that Juve were going to be crowned champions for the 28th time in their glorious history, then Milan's 2-2 draw with Lecce and the Bianconeri's cool 2-0 home win over Parma last week said it all. The results shattered Milan's already-faint hopes of retaining the crown.

Anything less than a win for Milan on Friday, in their home game against Palermo, will automatically see Juventus becoming champions again after an epic title race.

Roberto Mancini's Inter, thanks to their seventh success in their last eight league outings, have already made sure of participating in next summer's Champions League third qualifying round.

The same cannot be said of Udinese and Sampdoria. They are still level on points in fourth place.

Although Walter Novellino's Sampdoria seem to have a more difficult calendar (vs Inter and Bologna) than Udinese (vs Cagliari and Milan), one should not exclude the possibility that a play-off will be needed to determine Italy's fourth representative in the Champions League.

At the wrong end of the table, one can possibly roam up to mid-table to discover that no fewer than 13 teams are somehow still entangled in a nightmarish battle to escape relegation.

Cagliari and Livorno enjoy a cushion five-point lead over third-from-bottom Brescia and Fiorentina.

Atalanta have improved dramatically over the last three months or so. Delio Rossi's side have marched with the rhythm of a team contesting a UEFA Cup berth and not one on the brink of finding its way out of the Serie A. Their remaining two fixtures are two end-to-end clashes against Roma and Siena.

As things stand, Atalanta are four points adrift of safety and there exists the prospect that even if they win their two remaining games, they may still be relegated.

Roma will be without Francesco Totti, Christian Panucci and Oliver Dacourt on Sunday when they travel to Bergamo to play Atalanta. The team from the capital have been rather erratic lately. They are without a win in their last 11 outings and their remaining two games are not easy either.

Roma also have a decisive Coppa Italia tie tomorrow against Udinese. If they are to participate in the UEFA Cup next season, then they have to reach the final, at least.

Roma's last game of the season will be at home against Chievo.

Lazio are one point above Roma but their position is less precarious than that of their city rivals.

On Sunday, Lazio have an awkward home encounter with Fiorentina, coached by their former coach Dino Zoff.

If Lazio lose, they can make up for lost ground by beating Palermo, who by that time should have already attained qualification to the UEFA Cup.

Both Reggina and Lecce, level on points with Lazio, are not yet home and dry but should make it. These two teams will face each other on Sunday... a draw is the most likely outcome here.

Troubled Bologna

Of the teams outside the bottom three, Bologna are risking most.

Carlo Mazzone's side could have aspired for a UEFA Cup berth had they pursued with their solid run that had seen them conquering Milan and Udinese earlier this year.

But Bologna have experienced a dip in form ever since they beat Udinese at the Friuli Stadium on the 27th day. From their last nine games, all they have to show are a mere five points. But this is not the most worrying aspect for them as they still have to face the likes of Chievo (away) and Sampdoria (home).

Fiorentina have an arduous task facing them as they still have to cross swords with Lazio and Brescia. Before the Fiorentina game, Brescia have a seemingly less arduous encounter against Messina.

Chievo are the dark horses in this race against relegation. They are one point above the bottom three but they need at least four points from their remaining fixtures against Bologna and Roma.

Siena threw away a golden opportunity to settle their future as they went down at home to Chievo last Sunday.

Siena have to improve considerably from their uninspiring run of three defeats in their last four outings if they are to extend their stay in the Serie A by another season.

Next weekend, Siena travel to Parma and the following week they take on an Atalanta side that may have already been doomed. Parma travel to Lecce on the last day.

So many direct encounters still have to be played. But, although the position of certain teams is more precarious than others, one should never rush to conclusions.

Serie A statistics

1st away win for Chievo since the 1-0 victory over Lazio on October 17. On Sunday, Chievo, who in midweek replaced coach Mario Beretta with former club captain Maurizio D'Angelo, went on to beat fellow strugglers Siena in Tuscany for the second season running. Chievo's first win in five games coincided with Siena's third defeat in their last four outings. When a goalless draw looked on the books, Chievo hit the all-important goal 10 minutes from time to record their third success in five league visits to Siena. In another basement clash, Fiorentina and Atalanta shared the spoils in a balanced encounter which could have gone either way. Both sides had their moments in the game even though much more was expected of Fiorentina who are now back into the relegation zone. Atalanta's most recent of eight wins in 48 league visits to Florence dates back to January 3, 1993 (1-0).

5 points now separate long-time leaders Juventus from nearest pursuers Milan. In the weekend's fixtures, the Bianconeri pursued with their winning march whereas the defending champions continued to fall further off the pace following a 2-2 draw at Lecce. On Sunday, it was the easiest of games for Juventus as their opponents Parma did nothing to stop them from recording a fourth straight win. Juve hit twice inside the opening 23 minutes and from then on controlled well without risking anything. On their count, Parma had already their minds focused on Sunday's make-or-break home clash with Siena as the substitutions of Alberto Gilardino and Domenico Morfeo amply testify. The same cannot be said of Lecce who gave Milan a hard run for their money. The Champions League finalists, currently going through a lean period, were twice in front but failed to hold on to their lead despite the fact that Lecce were reduced to 10 men as from the 73rd minute. Juventus need only two draws from their remaining two fixtures - vs Livorno and Cagliari. Inter made sure of finishing third thanks to a narrow home win over Livorno, who thus succumbed to their third straight defeat. It was Inter's first home success over Livorno since November 21, 1948 (3-1).

7th positive result on the trot (three wins and four draws) for Sampdoria as they shared the spoils with Udinese (2-2). In a decisive clash to determine who will be representing Italy in next season's Champions League alongside Juve, Milan and Inter, Samp took the lead in the 25th minute through defender Marcello Castellini. Udinese equalised through a scrappy Marco Pisano own goal soon after. From then on, the game could have gone either way but at the end both sides preferred not to risk by holding on to a draw. Udinese, favourites to reach the Coppa Italia semi-final at the expense of beleaguered Roma, have to do without several key players (including David Pizarro and Marek Jankulovski) for Sunday's away game against Cagliari. Off-form Palermo inched nearer towards UEFA Cup qualification by scoring an injury time equaliser against Reggina at home. Palermo are without a success in their last six games (four draws and two defeats). Had Reggina held on to their lead, then it would have been their first win in Palermo since 1971. Messina, too, left it late to beat Cagliari and in so doing made a giant step towards finishing seventh... a spot that may give them the right to play in next season's UEFA Cup (it all depends on who will be the finalists of the Coppa Italia). Prior to Sunday, Messina had last beaten Cagliari at home on June 3, 1990 (1-0).

18 goals were scored on the 36th day: 10 coming from the hosts and the remaining eight from the visitors. Total number of goals netted so far amount to 908. Alberto Gilardino (Parma) and Cristiano Lucarelli (Livorno) still top the scorers' list with 22 goals each. Sampdoria's Marco Pisano committed the only own goal of the day. Messina's Nicola Amoruso was the only substitute to find the net. Gaetano D'Agostino ably converted the only penalty of the weekend in favour of Messina. Siena are the only top division side still to have a penalty in favour. Two players - Andrea Caracciolo (Brescia) and Alex Cedric Konan (Lecce) - received marching orders.

25 years had to pass for Brescia to return to winning ways at Bologna as Alberto Cavasin's side struck twice inside 28 minutes in the second half to keep alive their chances of staying up and, at the same time, add to Bologna's woes. Carlo Mazzone's side, winless in their last nine outings, are now only three points above the relegation zone and their position could become even more precarious when one considers that their remaining fixtures are against fellow relegation strugglers Chievo (away) and at home vs Sampdoria, who are still in contention for the last available Champions League spot. Bologna and Brescia have not shared the spoils since a goalless draw in 1988. In recent years, we had all become accustomed to watch exciting Rome derbies. This fixture is considered the game of the year in Italy for its colour and, more importantly, because in recent years it was decisive for the title destination. Last weekend, Roma vs Lazio was a key match but for the wrong reason as both sides are still in the mire of relegation. In stark contrast with recent derbies, it was a dull, almost lifeless match in which both sides did little to win and thus stem the relegation worries that still torment them. Lazio have now gone five games without a win (two draws and three defeats) whereas Coppa Italia semi-finalists Roma's latest league success came on the 25th day (vs Livorno 3-0).