Roma coach Luciano Spalletti hopes Sunday night's 1-0 derby win against Lazio has removed the ''worm'' that turned last year's runners-up into seeming relegation candidates.
''I hope this win helps root out the 'worm' that got into the team and made everything harder,'' he said after the win at the Olimpico pushed Roma three points above the relegation zone.
''I hope the boys will get hold of the reality, the fact that they have better prospects,'' Spalletti said.
The defeat left Lazio 5th, on 22 points, a point behind Napoli and a point above Udinese, both of whom also lost.
A marvelous brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Palermo kept Inter one point clear at the top on 27 points, one ahead of AC Milan who beat Chievo on a controversial Kaka' penalty and three ahead of Juventus who thrashed Genoa last Thursday.
The championsip is still much 'shorter' than previous years with the top 9 separated by 7 points:
Inter 27
Milan 26
Juventus 24
Napoli 23
Lazio 22
Udinese 21
Catania 21
Fiorentina 20
Genoa 20
