Inter Milan chief Moratti hails three-way Serie A title race
Inter slash AC Milan's lead at the top of Serie A to two points as Italian title race hots up ahead of derby
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti is thrilled to see three sides battling for Serie A glory after the title race was blown wide open last weekend.
Inter moved to within two points of leaders AC Milan following an enthralling weekend of top flight action in Italy, and Moratti said: “This year it’s a great championship and great fun because there are three teams in the running.
“Milan looked like they had opened up a gap but now Napoli are very close too.”
Defending champions Inter overcame relegation-threatened Lecce 1-0 at San Siro on Sunday after Palermo had dented Milan’s title hopes with their 1-0 triumph over the leaders the day before – a defeat which also edged Napoli and Udinese back into contention.
Lifting their sixth consecutive Serie A trophy would add gloss to a turbulent season for Inter after any remnants of the elation that came with last season’s treble were swiftly washed away by Rafael BenÃÂtez’s turbulent spell in charge.
The defending champions trailed Massimo Allegri’s Milan by 13 points at the turn of the year, albeit with two games in hand, when former Milan boss Leonardo was unveiled as the Spaniard’s successor.
The Brazilian’s appointment has proved a master-stroke by Moratti, with Inter storming to 12 victories in 15 games to leave Leonardo’s side just two points off the pace with eight games to play.
The signing of striker Giampaolo Pazzini from Sampdoria has injected life into an ageing squad and has added an extra dimension to Leonardo’s attacking options.
Pazzini, 26, has already netted six goals in 10 games since swapping Genoa for Milan.
Inter and AC next face each other in the Milan derby after the international break, and despite the narrow gap between the two teams Leonardo does not believe the outcome will decide the destination of this year’s title.
“All the remaining matches are decisive, not just that one,” Leonardo said. “The derby won’t be crucial because after that there are another seven rounds.”
“What we wanted to do was get closer, get back in the race and challenge for the Scudetto. We reach this derby in the best possible condition.”
Serie A table snapshot
