Inter looking to bounce back

MILAN, Feb 1 (AFP) - Inter Milan face a test of courage when they host Torino at the San Siro Stadium on Saturday.

Inter, locked with AS Roma and Juventus in what now looks like a three-way fight for the Scudetto, lost top spot last week to Roma, drawing 1-1 with bottom club Venezia.

Inter's dependence on striker Christian Vieri, who has bagged 14 goals in just 12 matches of an injury-hit season, has been put into starker perspective with the news that Brazilian Ronaldo is still out of contention.

Torino, who were looking relegation fodder at Christmas, have surged up the table on the back of three consecutive wins.

While their recent history has been unimpressive Torino were once one of the biggest clubs in Italy and that sense of history tends to motivate them when they the present-day fat cats as their fightback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Juventus earlier this season proves.

Roma and Juve, in contrast, have what on paper should be easier tasks.

Defending champions Roma defend their single-point lead at Fiorentina where a warm reception is guaranteed for Argentinian forward Gabriel Batistuta who scored a club record 152 Serie A goals in nine seasons at the Florence club.

The pitiful decline of Fiorentina continues apace and although in the equivalent fixture last season the 'viole' inflicted one of only three defeats on Roma all season anything other than a Roma win would be an upset.

Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes, who is seeking to have his contract cancelled by the club, has declared himself available for Fiorentina although - if picked - he is likely to get a hostile reception from home supporters.

Juventus are the form team in Serie A and are hunting a sixth consecutive win at home to Lecce who are guided for the first time by Delio Rossi who replaced the sacked Alberto Cavasin on Tuesday.

Lecce managed to pull off a 1-1 draw last season in the equivalent fixture at the Stadio Delle Alpi, a result that delivered a near-fatal blow to Juve's title challenge.

Rossi is confident that his new charges can defy the odds and said: "We must believe in ourselves - it will be a very tough match but we have the necessary cards to do well."

Chievo are still just about touch with the leading pack and they visit Piacenza hoping to cement their hold on fourth spot which keeps them in line for Champions League football.

Lazio host AC Milan in a battle of two crisis clubs whose respective coaches Alberto Zaccheroni and Carlo Ancelotti have both received the dreaded vote of confidence in the past week - in Zaccheroni's case that was before Wednesday's 3-1 defeat at Chievo.

Verona host Atalanta while bottom club Venezia visit Bologna. Udinese, buoyed by their first win over AC Milan at the San Siro in 20 years, host Perugia who have also climbed away from the relegation zone in recent weeks.

Brescia meet Parma after losing 2-0 to them in their rearranged Italian Cup semi-final first leg match on Thursday.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated)
Saturday: Inter Milan v Torino (1930 GMT)

Sunday: Bologna v Venezia, Brescia v Parma, Fiorentina v AS Roma, Juventus v Lecce, Piacenza v Chievo, Udinese v Perugia, Verona v Atalanta, Lazio v AC Milan (1930 GMT)


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