Big game, but they have nothing to play for

– Barely a month ago, Inter Milan against AS Roma would have been considered a clash of two Serie A title contenders, but when they meet at the San Siro tomorrow, neither side will be thinking about the Scudetto.

Both teams have faded badly, leaving leaders Napoli (51 points) and second-placed Juventus (50) in a two-horse race for the title.

The pair have opened an eightpoint gap over Luciano Spalletti’s (right) third-placed Inter while Roma have dropped to fifth, a further three points behind.

Inter went through their first 16 league games unbeaten and led

Milan

the table on December 9 but have managed only three draws and two defeats in their last five Serie A games, scoring a paltry two goals in the process.

Roma have managed one win in their last five league games and scored three goals.

The match, the highlight of the round which sees Serie A return following the winter break, will be the second time that Spalletti has faced Roma since leading the team from the capital to second place with a club record points haul last term.

Inter, enduring their sixth successive season without Champions League football, won the first meeting 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico at the start of the season.

Spalletti suggested after Inter’s last match, a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina that some of his players were not pulling their weight.

However, he also dismissed suggestions that the transfer window could solve their problems.

“We cannot make big signings in this window,” he said. “We can do better by making sure our players play to their potential.”

Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco finds himself in a similar predicament, trying to get the best out of a team who looked su- perb in October and November but have now lost their way.

While Inter and Roma have faded, Napoli and Juventus have pressed on relentlessly, each winning their last four league games.

Juve, aiming for a seventh successive title and lurking one point behind Napoli, have an apparently straightforward home match against struggling Genoa on Monday.

Napoli, on the other hand, have a far more difficult game tomorrow away to Atalanta, who knocked them out of the Coppa Italia three weeks ago and won 2-1 at Roma in their last game. –