Inter urged to close out title race in style

ROME, Apr 17 (Reuters) Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini wants his players to produce a flawless performance to beat AS Roma and claim a second successive Serie A title tomorrow.

Inter lead the division on 81 points from 31 matches, 16 points ahead of second-placed Roma.

A victory at the San Siro stadium tomorrow would open up an insurmountable 19-point lead with six matches remaining.

''On Wednesday we've got match-point, and I want my team to play a perfect match,'' Mancini was quoted as saying in La Gazzetta dello Sport yesterday.

Unbeaten in Serie A this season, Inter have dominated the title race from start to finish.

Their relentless progress towards the 15th title in their history slowed in the last nine days, however, as first they were held to a 0-0 draw by relegation-threatened Reggina, and then forced to come from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw with Palermo.

''If we play against Roma like we did against Palermo on Sunday, we'll give away more than two goals,'' continued Mancini.

''At this point in the season you can't afford to underestimate anybody. We were slow, too spread out, and left too many spaces (against Palermo).

''Luckily I've got players who are capable of turning a game in the space of a few minutes. Our duty between now and the end of the season, however, is to win the remaining seven matches.'' Striker Hernan Crespo is unlikely to play after limping off with a thigh injury during the game against Palermo.

Fortunately for Mancini, Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic has recovered from a groin strain and looks set to start alongside Adriano in attack.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti will also have a strong squad at his disposal after Rodrigo Taddei shook off the knee injury that kept him out of last week's humiliating 7-1 defeat to Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Roma's 4-0 win over Sampdoria at the weekend restored some of the pride that was so badly battered during that defeat, though a win over Inter to delay their title celebrations would also give back some of the lustre that was lost during a season spent in the shadow of the Milan giants.

''We'll do everything we can to ruin Inter's evening,'' said Roma defender Matteo Ferrari.

''We're tired of being bystanders at other people's parties.

We want to show that Inter aren't the only great side in Italy.'' In Rome, meanwhile, Lazio (56 points) will try to consolidate third place with a win over Chievo Verona.

Chievo are hovering just two points above the relegation zone, but Lazio will be wary of taking too much for granted after a 2-2 draw against basement side Ascoli on Sunday.

Lazio's slip-up should serve as a warning to fourth-placed AC Milan, who face Ascoli away.

Carlo Ancelotti's side started the season on minus eight points for their part in last year's match-fixing scandal, but moved into a Champions League qualifying berth for the first time this season after beating Messina 3-1 on Sunday.

''The team is in an excellent physical condition and that allows me to turnover the players and give them a rest,'' said Ancelotti, whose team also face a Champions League semi-final tie against Manchester United on April 24 and May 2.

''We've got plenty of matches between now and the end of the season, but we will maintain our concentration.

''Our objective is fourth place. It's a target I believe we can reach because this team knows how to dig in for a result.'' REUTERS TB RK0956