Runaway Serie A leaders Inter Milan are bidding to cement team spirit at Sampdoria Sunday after a rare fit of nerves following their 2-0 midweek Champions League defeat at Liverpool.
Asked to explain the loss, only their second of the season, Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahmovic told reporters: ''I suppose you should ask Marco (Materazzi)''.
The Italy centre-back was scapegoated by some pundits after picking up a silly second yellow card, leaving Inter with ten men for an hour.
Liverpool built up the pressure and finally capitalised with two late goals after stand-out defender Ivan Cordoba was stretchered off with a season-ending injury.
Ibrahimovic told Thursday's La Gazzetta dello Sport the defeat was ''like a dagger to the heart after all our hard work''.
But he clarified that he ''did not blame'' Materazzi for the loss.
''I myself asked Marco whether the two yellows were justified, and he said they weren't. That's enough for me,'' said the Swede, who had little impact on Tuesday's match, chasing down long balls with few sights of goal.
Seventh-placed Sampdoria, however, are one of the worst sides Inter could visit after showing chinks in the mental armour that has helped it build up an 11-point lead over Roma.
Former Italy striker Antonio Cassano is in sensational form and could pose a threat to an Inter defence that has given away only 13 goals in 23 matches.
Roma, on the contrary, are on a high going into Sunday's clash with fourth-placed Fiorentina after Tuesday's 2-1 comeback win against Real Madrid.
Italian bookmakers just might re-open betting on Inter retaining their tile should Inter lose and Roma win, narrowing the gap to 8 points with 14 games to go.
But they are more likely to wait until after Inter-Roma on February 27 and Inter-Juventus on March 22.
Juve, a point behind Roma in third, travel to second-last Reggina on Saturday hoping to leapfrog the Romans if Fiorentina do them a favour.
But Italy goalie Gianluigi Buffon is very doubtful because of a back strain. Buffon's back-up is the little-known former Reggina and Napoli keeper Emanuele Belardi.
European champs AC Milan, three points below Fiorentina in fifth, host eighth-placed Palermo on Sunday night buoyed by the class they showed in beating back Arsenal's threat in Wednesday night's goalless draw in London.
There were worries for Brazilian boy wonder Pato after he was carried off at Arsenal Stadium but it turned out to be just cramp.
But Alberto Gilardino, who looked useful after replacing the 18-year-old Brazilian, is expected to start against the Sicilians.
