AS Roma have broken all records in (heir paceselling exploils this season in the Italian First Division but on Sunday night they must break (heir Milan jinx if they are to keep (heir closes! challengers for the Scudelto Juventus al arm's length.

I abio Capello's side has lost only two matches this season in Serie A - both against the Milan clubs Inter and AC.

Both (hose setbacks were al (he San Siro and Roma will hope that when they welcome Marco Far dclli's Inter to the Olympic Stadium on Sunday evening (hat home advantage will make the difference.

It will not be plain sailing for Roma who learned this week that Argentinian striker Gabriel Batistuta is likely to be out of action for three to four weeks after aggra-vating his longstanding knee injury.

And playing away horn ihe San Siro may well suit Inter who have been subjected to some vicious abuse by their own supporters in recent weeks.

Juventus visit Udinesc who inflicted the Turin side's only home defeat of (he season in the First Division (his season when the two

teams met at theSladio DclleAlpi

But Juve are very much in form and will be anxious to win all three points to put maximum pressure on Roma who play their match with Inter several hours later.

Frenchman David Trezeguct could return for Juve for w'hom Alessandro Del Piero is also returning to form after two years dogged by injury.

Defending champions Lazio are third, eight points adrift of Roma and two behind Juve, and will hope to stay in the race on Saturday evening when they visit Brescia who are on a fine run.

Luca Marchegiani will replace the injured Angelo Peruzzi in the Lizio goal and will have his hands full against a Brescia frontline of Roberto Baggio, who scored twice in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Fiorentina, and 13-goal Dario Hubner.

Crisis club Fiorentina will visit bottom club Bari on Sunday, though, new coach-designate Roberto Mancini will not be allowed on the bench unless Italian football chiefs waive rules that decree he is ineligible for such a role because he was Sven (ioran Eriksson's assistant at Lazio earlier in the season.

Morale is rock bottom al Fiorentina after the week's events.

I inkish coach Fatih 1 erim quit on Monday after his position was made virtually untenable by the

board s open courting ol Mancini and lii- ohlirr »oarin' g staff -lurks and Hal ins - followed suit in solidarity.

Worst of all w as the decision of director gener; I Giancarlo Antog-noni to resign minutes alter I erim had walked (In plank, ending a 29-vear association with the side.

Antognoni. the playmaker in Italy's 1982 World Cup winning side although ie missed the final through injury was idolised as a player al the Florence club and refused several offers from northern giants such as Juventus and Inter Milan to May with the Tuscan side.

Goalkeeper Francesco Toldo hinted he might soon leave- as well, joking that Mancini and club president Vittorio Cecchi Gori were suffering from mad cow disease.

AC Milan host Parma al the San Siro while Napoli entertain Lecce in an all southern clash. Vicenza visit P rugia and Alalanta travel to Ver ma. Reggina and Bologna meet in the Saturday afternoon mat' h.

FIXTURES

Saturday. Reggina v Bologna. Brescia v Lazio

Sunday: Bari v Fiorentina. AC Milan v Parma. Napoli v Lease, Perugia v Vicenza, Udinese v Juventus. Verona v Atalanta. AS Roma v Inter Milan