Two goals from Alvaro Recoba and one from Christian Vieri saw Inter Milan beat AS Roma 3-1 at home, a result that puts Hector Cuper's side firmly on course for the Italian first division title.
It was a dazzling performance by Inter Milan, who fully merited their victory against the defending
champions.
AS Roma's goal by Francesco Totti was disputed for offside and they finished the match with 10 men after French defender Jonathan Zebina was sent off.
Inter Milan took control of the game in the first half, taking a 2-0 lead by the interval. The strike partnership of Vieri and Recoba did the damage.
Recoba opened the scoring in the second minute, taking the ball from Vieri and going around Roma goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli before netting.
With the interval looming, Uruguayan international Recoba turned provider, crossing to Vieri, whose well-placed header found the corner for the Italian international's 19th goal this season.
After 56 minutes, Totti reduced the arrears, scoring despite Inter Milan appeals for offside.
But Recoba's second - a trademark free-kick - ensured Roma lost only their second match of the Serie A season.
The Inter Milan outfit are firm title favourites. With six games remaining, they lead Roma by three points.
Third-placed Juventus are a further point adrift after their 1-0 defeat at Parma.
What is more, of the three title contenders, Inter Milan have the easiest run-in.
Elsewhere, Bologna pulled off a dramatic 4-3 victory at home to relegation-threatened Lecce.
They keep hold of the fourth place that would guarantee them a spot in the preliminary round of next season's Champions League.
* Birthday boy Fernando Hierro played a real captain's role, grabbing a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat relegation-haunted Real Zaragoza 3-1 to stay on course for the Spanish title. However, Valencia are pushing them all the way and are level with 56 points after their hard-fought 2-1 victory against Osasuna.
Real's Champions League rivals, Barcelona, kept their fading title hopes alive with a 2-1 win at Real Valladolid, despite having skipper Abelardo sent off late in the opening period.
Dutch wizard Patrick Kluivert helped to secure the win with a brilliant individual finish in the 11th minute to go joint top of the goalscorers' standings with Real's Fernando Morientes and Celta Vigo's Catanha.
Catanha was on target in a 6-1 away thrashing of Athletic Bilbao.
* In Germany, title-chasers Borussia Dortmund moved to within a point of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-0 win over lowly Energie Cottbus.
Cottbus, reduced to 10 men after 17 minutes, were given a footballing lesson during their visit to their western German rivals.
Good work by Czech international Jan Koller paid off and the Dortmund striker had a hand in his side's first two goals.
Brazilian striker Ewerthon netted the first in the 28th minute and Czech international Tomas Rosicky gave them a comfortable 2-0 lead seven minutes later.
It was more of the same after the break. Cottbus were unable to put pressure on the Uefa Cup semifinalists and Italian striker Guiseppe Reina grabbed the third goal 10 minutes before the whistle.
Leverkusen, who crushed 1860 Munich 4-0, have regularly been in the hunt for title glory in recent years, but have always flopped at the last.
This time Klaus Topmoller's men - drawn to meet Liverpool in the Champions League quarter-finals - have vowed to throw off the bridesmaid tag.
On this form they look capable of staying the course, even though Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich are in hot pursuit.
- AGENCIES
Two goals from Alvaro Recoba and one from Christian Vieri saw Inter Milan beat AS Roma 3-1 at home, a result that puts Hector Cuper's side firmly on course for the Italian first division title.
It was a dazzling performance by Inter Milan, who fully merited their victory against the defending
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