Roma’s Ranieri ready for ‘match of the year’

AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri was eagerly looking forward to this weekend’s "match of the year" against leaders Inter Milan after the Serie A title race took another intriguing twist.

Buoyant Roma won 2-0 at Bologna to move level on points with second-placed AC Milan, who lost 1-0 at Parma following another inconsistent performance.

Inter overpowered bottom side Livorno 3-0 at the San Siro but their lead can be slashed back to a point if Roma beat Jose Mourinho’s side in the rocking Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

“It’s great that Roma, eight games from the end, can play the match of the year,” Ranieri told Sky television.

“The squad is in form and keeps running and battling. We feel the fans’ hearts beating inside us.”

Roma, who won the last of their three scudettos in 2001, were in turmoil when Luciano Spalletti quit after two defeats at the start of the season but Ranieri has worked wonders given the fit-again Francesco Totti has been injured for several months.

“We can’t give them any hope,” Inter defender Ivan Cordoba said, standing in for Mourinho as the Portuguese continues his press blackout.

Milan’s rookie coach Leonardo made no excuses for their defeat, where Parma’s Valeri Bojinov scored on 90 minutes before Andrea Pirlo was dismissed.

“In the first half we were subdued. Second half we changed it a bit and perked up but we didn’t manage to inject much clarity into our play,” the Brazilian said ahead of Sunday's home game with improving Lazio.