Inter Milan set to retain big lead at mid-season

The seven-point lead that unbeaten Inter, on 46 points, hold on second-place Roma is unlikely to be dented when they take on minnows Parma late Sunday, hours after Roma welcome mid-table Catania.

 Parma this week welcomed veteran striker Cristiano Lucarelli  from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. The 32-year-old, however, is far from his best form and may be fielded only for part of the game at the Giuseppe Meazza, where Parma nourish faint hopes to improve their 18-point tally.

 A pulsating game is expected at the Stadio Olimpico, where Roma in mid-week thrashed Torino 4-0 in the Italian Cup with captain Francesco Totti scoring a brace to total 200 goals for his side.

 Totti, 31, said he now wants to "reach 300 goals and Losi's appearances with Roma." The second achievement is the more likely as former defender Giacomo Losi, with 386 appearances, has played just five more Serie A games than Totti.

 Catania are upbeat after holding Juventus to a 1-1 draw last weekend and eliminating AC Milan from the Italian Cup in mid-week, but have a bad record away from home, where they have never won.

 Fans in Turin are also in for a good game between third-place Juventus and visiting Sampdoria, a Genoa side vying for a UEFA Cup berth and relying heavily on their inspired striker Antonio Cassano.

 Juve last week fell 10 points adrift from Inter, but their 36-point tally keeps them on pace to secure a Champions League berth.

 The fourth available slot is in the sights of 32-point Udinese and fifth-placed Fiorentina, trailing on 31 ahead of Saturday's home game with lowly Torino.

 Udinese are also at home Sunday, but face a tougher game with AC Milan, who last weekend celebrated their first home win as they cheered for the debut of young Brazil star Alexandre Pato.

 Palermo lie sixth and look to retain a UEFA Cup berth when they take on struggling Siena, promoted Napoli are safe on 23 points when they welcome troubled Lazio, lying on 18 points alongside Parma and Livorno, who host lowly Empoli.

 Hosting newcomers Genoa and Atalanta face off in a mid-table tie, with the guests from Bergamo worrying about the critical conditions of their president Ivan Ruggeri.

 On Saturday afternoon, bottom side Cagliari are desperate to improve their 10 points from 18 games away to Reggina, also struggling in the three-team relegation zone next to 14-point Siena.

DPA