Inter set sights on double

| Tue, 05/08/2007 - 06:48

Inter Milan will have their sights set on the domestic double when they take on AS Roma in the first leg of the Italian Cup here on Wednesday.

Cup-holders Inter, who secured the Serie A title with five games to spare two weeks ago, face the only side capable of beating them in the league this season.

Roma, meanwhile, will be hoping it is third time lucky for them, after losing to Inter in the cup final in the last two years.

They may be more fired up than the visitors.

Inter will consider the 2006-07 campaign a success no matter who wins the cup, which does not carry the prestige of its English equivalent.

For Roma, the final is an opportunity to take something away from a season in which they have played fine football, only to see their hopes of league and European glory scuppered.

They were the more impressive of the two sides last weekend.

Roma beat Palermo (6th) 2-1 to guarantee themselves second place and automatic qualification for the group stage of next season's Champions League. The margin of victory should have been greater.

Inter were slightly lucky to defeat second-from-bottom Messina 0-1 - condemning the Sicilians to Serie B in the process - after producing a tired, error-strewn performance.

Inter's Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo foresees a hard-fought match in Rome.

"We have run a lot this season and physically we're not like we were at the start of the season, but the same goes for Roma and I think we will be at the same level," he said.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini dismissed suggestions his side will not be as motivated as Roma.

"We will try to keep our level of concentration high. We are facing Roma on Wednesday and we really want to do well," he said.

Mancini is without striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and defenders Maicon and Walter Samuel, who are injured.

Roma captain Francesco Totti, who scored a superb free-kick Sunday to take his league goal tally up to 22 this season, is doubtful because of back pains.

The second leg of the Italian Cup final takes place at the San Siro Stadium on May 17.

Roma have won the cup seven times in their history, Inter five.

Topic: