Inter win to keep Roma in check

FC Internazionale Milano defeated Atalanta BC 2-1 on Saturday night to reclaim sole leadership of Serie A after AS Roma had temporarily joined them at the summit by winning at Genoa CFC.

Ibrahimović rested
With an eye on Tuesday's UEFA Champions League visit of Fenerbahçe SK, Inter coach Roberto Mancini started with leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimović on the bench but saw Julio Cruz and David Suazo combine to deadly effect in the Swede’s absence. Suazo opened the scoring on eleven minutes following a one-two with Cruz, who turned in the second on the half-hour after his strike partner had fired against the post. Sergio Floccari then scored with a powerful drive for Atalanta (39), who finished with ten men following Simone Inzaghi's late dismissal shortly after Inter had introduced the fit-again Marco Materazzi for the first time this season.

Panucci winner
In Genoa, Christian Panucci – a former Genoa player who sealed Italy's place at UEFA EURO 2008™ last Saturday when scoring against Scotland – popped up in the last minute again to earn Roma three points. Both teams had struck the woodwork in the second half before the defender's crucial intervention, Matteo Paro (72) for Genoa and Mirko Vučinić (77) for the visitors. AS Roma travel to FC Dynamo Kyiv in midweek.