Shining Inter Milan close year with large lead in Serie A By Alberto Cagliano
Milan (dpa) - Proud and gritty after a 10th straight win, Serie A leaders Inter Milan look to keep up their impressive pace Saturday against Atalanta in a regional derby leading to a three-week winter break.
The first-half dismissal of mainstay striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not hamper the title holders in a midweek game that saw them prevail by 2-0 at Lazio to retain a seven-point lead over Roma.
Unbeaten and boasting 45 points from 17 games, Inter look now to equal Roma's all-time record of 11 straight wins.
"We must fear only ourselves," said Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic after the win against his former club Lazio. "We are very strong and never give up."
He showed little interest for the looming 11-win record. "We aim at ending the year in the best possible way. But we must be careful: against Atalanta it won't be easy."
Saturday at Milan's Giuseppe Meazza, coach Roberto Mancini cannot rely on Ibrahimovic and defender Marco Materazzi, both suspended, and can only hope to have back in defence the injured Ramiro Cordoba.
Roma and their in-form captain Francesco Totti, the league's best scorer on 12 goals, hope for a slip-up from the leaders as they face a seemingly light task at home to Cagliari following a 2-1 win away to in-form newcomers Torino.
Palermo lie third, 11 points from the top, when they visit Tuscany side Siena, while Sampdoria and promoted hosts Catania face off in Sicily lying joint-fourth on 23 points with Udinese, at home to penalised giants AC Milan.
The Milanese Devils finally clinched a convincing result in midweek, crushing Catania 3-0 thanks to a brace from Brazil's star Kaka after three consecutive draws. They have, however, just 17 points as they struggle to overcome an eight-point deficit stemming from their role in a wide match-fixing affair.
Fiorentina are also troubled by a point penalty and lie on 15 points before hosting struggling Messina, while Lazio look to improving their mid-table standing away to lowly Parma.
Reggina, the league's third penalised side, are second-from-last when they host Tuscany side Empoli, the mid-table underdogs boasting the best defence with just 13 goals conceded.
Livorno and visitors Torino cross swords lying on 21 points next to Atalanta and bottom side Ascoli welcome fourth-from-last Chievo Verona. // © 2006 DPA
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