The 23rd of September 2007 is not really a significant date to anyone, unless of course you are a fan of AS Roma. That was the last time the Giallorossi led the Serie A title race. Move forward almost three years and one half of the capital is gearing up for its most important month for nine years. In 2001, under the guidance of Fabio Capello, a squad which featuring the scintillating forward line of Francesco Totti, Gabriel Batistuta and Vincenzo Montella, Il Lupi claimed their third Scudetto. In 2010 led by Claudio Ranieri, the similarities are frightening – with Totti again leading from the front, accompanied this time by Mirko Vucinic and Luca Toni. Inter Milan’s slip up on Saturday night at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence opened the door for the Capital club to take over top spot. Jose Mourinho’s faltering side had come from behind to lead 2-1 but a controversial equaliser from Danish defender Per Kroldrup eight minutes from time tied the game and handed the initiative to the Roman’s. The Nerazzurri were livid with the officials as replays suggested a hand ball from Cesere Natali should have seen the goal chalked off. The Nerazzurri’s misery was compounded at full-time when Ayroldi, one of the Assistant Referees, seemed to be overjoyed with the result. Inter Milan’s sporting director Marco Branca controversially claimed in Sunday’s Gazzetta Dello Sport that “Ayroldi was happy for Roma,” a statement that will surely see another heavy penalty levied upon the Milanese giants. Indeed league president Giancarlo Abete came out in the press to quash any suspicions announcing that “I have spoken to Pierluigi Collina (head of the Italian refereeing organisation) and he has assured me that Mr Ayroldi was just happy at having had a good game.” The matter looks set to run and run.
AC Milan are almost out of title contention after a 2-2 draw at the San Siro against in-form Catania left them four points off the pace. In a week where, yet again, President Silvio Berlusconi has questioned the abilities of Coach Leonardo, his team looked a pale shadow of their former selves as the visitors led 2-0 at the break thanks to Maxi Lopez and Adrian Ricchiuti. Lopez has been one of the signings of the season having joined the islanders in January – if he had been there at the start of the season, then Il Elefanti may have been eyeing a European spot. After the interval, Marco Borriello decided to take things into his own hands and with just ten minutes to go, he had dragged his side back into contention. As the injured Alexandre Pato looked on from the VIP suites, his teammates threw everything at the Sicilians in the final minutes of the contest, but at full-time, with a chorus of boos ringing around this most famous of venues, it seems Berlusconi will demand a change at the helm for next term. This most engaging of football dramas, looks set for more twists and turns as we enter the final month of competition and calcio fans cannot wait for the next instalment.