MILAN, May 15 (Reuters) - Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could at least make the bench for Sunday's thrilling season finale, where a win at relegation-threatened Parma would hand Inter the Serie A title.
Second-placed AS Roma, a point behind the defending
champions, will snatch the scudetto if they beat struggling
Catania in Sicily and Inter fail to win. If Inter lose and Roma
draw, Inter will prevail due to a better head-to-head record.
Inter have blown an 11-point lead they had in February and
the possible return of leading scorer Ibrahimovic will be a
welcome boost after a month and a half out with a knee injury.
Roberto Mancini's side wasted opportunities to retain their
title with a defeat by AC Milan two weekends ago and last
Sunday's 2-2 home draw with Siena.
The nervous club have imposed a near press blackout this
week, with Ibrahimovic's return to fitness a rare bit of news.
Influential midfielder Esteban Cambiasso will miss the big
clash through injury with defender Cristian Chivu a doubt.
By contrast, Roma have no new injury worries for the trip
to Catania with Francesco Totti and Rodrigo Taddei having been
ruled out for the season a few weeks ago.
Captain Totti has still tried to make his presence felt by
beginning the mind games, stating that Inter will easily take
the title. Brazilian team mate Cicinho is not so sure.
'I don't know what the Inter players think. I know they are
under a lot of pressure. We are very concentrated and feel
good. So I'm convinced Roma will win the scudetto,' he said.
The two matches have extra importance because of Parma and
Catania's troubles at the bottom of the table.
Third-bottom Parma, who occupy the final relegation place,
are two points behind fourth-bottom Catania and must beat Inter
to have any chance.
Parma, the 1995 and 1999 UEFA Cup winners, sacked former
Inter coach Hector Cuper on Monday and replaced him with youth
team boss Andrea Manzo for this one crunch match. He will have
to do without three suspended players and a lengthy injury
list.
Catania, managed by former Inter goalkeeping great Walter
Zenga, realistically need just a draw against Roma to stay up
because their goal difference is six better than Parma with the
head-to-heads equal.
Second-from-bottom Empoli, three behind Catania, can still
escape if they beat already-relegated Livorno at home, Parma
fail to win and Catania lose.
The other issue to be decided on Sunday is the fourth and
final Champions League qualifying place. Fiorentina, who travel
to Torino, are two points ahead of last season's European
champions AC Milan, who host Udinese.
Sixth-placed Sampdoria are already assured of a UEFA Cup
place with Udinese in seventh grabbing the final spot as
Champions League-bound Inter and Roma meet in the Italian Cup
final on May 24.
Udinese do not yet have a license for European games but
are expected to secure one shortly.
