| Hernan Crespo secured a potentially decisive away win in the Scudetto race at Roma's Stadio Olimpico. This was an early Scudetto showdown between the two favourites and the Giallorossi were defending a 100 per cent record, while Roberto Mancini's men had to stave off pressure following disappointing results against Sporting Lisbon and Sampdoria.
Rodrigo Taddei was ruled out with an ankle injury, so Ricardo Faty was given his first start. Inter surprisingly left Luis Figo on the bench and dropped Adriano for the second consecutive Serie A match.
Francesco Totti had the first chance after seven minutes, as his missile of a free kick split the wall and Julio Cesar only saved it with an outstretched foot.
Patrick Vieira and Zlatan Ibrahimovic got in each others' way for a header at the back post, then Hernan Crespo came flying in to meet Fabio Grosso's cross, but volleyed it wide.
Roma strung together an excellent team move made up of one-touch football that eventually had Amantino Mancini chip the goalkeeper, but the finish was cleared off the line by Marco Materazzi. The Brazilian suffered a thigh injury during that move and made way for Vincenzo Montella.
Ibrahimovic's daisy-cutter was pushed round the post by Alexander Doni with some difficulty, then Montella tested Julio Cesar from distance.
Maicon used his body to charge down a rocket from Max Tonetto, but ex-Lazio man Crespo pounced on an Alberto Aquilani error and his cross in was crowded out by Philippe Mexes before Ibrahimovic could get the final touch.
Inter took the lead in this exciting game on the stroke of half-time. Crespo ran past Mexes down the left flank and his fierce shot ricocheted in off the inside of Doni's legs.
A Daniele De Rossi snapshot was off target, but after the break Doni parried a Grosso piledriver and repeated the trick on Ibrahimovic, the Swede bursting between Chivu and Mexes.
The referee pointed to the spot when Mexes hauled back Crespo inside the area. Ibrahimovic stepped up and his weak penalty was saved by Alexander Doni. It was a soft and very central kick that kept Roma in the game.
Materazzi felt the full brunt of a De Rossi missile, then Montella got on the end of a David Pizarro free kick to cause panic in the Inter area.
Ibrahimovic continued to threaten and Doni did well to save his effort from just inside the area.
Javier Zanetti's cross left Doni standing, but came off the upright as Inter couldn't seem to close the game down. Crespo's shot was well saved by the Roma goalkeeper, then Julio Cesar had to come flying out to kick the ball off Montella's foot from a Simone Perrotta pass.
Patrick Vieira picked up his second yellow card for dissent - his second dismissal since joining Inter.
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