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Inter faces Roma for Italian Cup title

Inter is also battling Roma for the Serie A title, holding a two-point lead with two games remaining, then will face Bayern Munich in the Champions League final May 22 in Madrid.

“It’s going to be a battle, a very difficult game, and I hope our team has the necessary desire to do well,” Inter president Massimo Moratti said, adding that he doesn’t believe the squad is distracted by the Champions League. “There’s still plenty of time for that, so I think we’ll be able to stay focused.”

Roma has added motivation after watching its city rival Lazio virtually lie down to allow Inter a 2-0 win Sunday, with Lazio fans delighting in their team’s loss because it dented Roma’s title ambitions.

Roma executive Gian Paolo Montali called the Lazio-Inter game “one of the worst events in Italian sports.” However, he pointed out that Inter was not at fault.

“They didn’t have anything to do with it,” Montali said. “Inter is a great team, and they’re in the final of the Champions League. If Inter plays a great game we’ll be the first to admit their superiority.”

Roma president Rosella Sensi said she would have been “ashamed to win that way” if she were Inter, to which Moratti responded that “it’s a problem between Roma and Lazio, it doesn’t involve Inter.”

Roma beat Inter 2-1 in their last meeting in Serie A, and the clubs have already met in the Italian Cup final three of the past four years, with Roma winning twice and Inter once. Roma is attempting to break a tie with Juventus and win its record 10^th title overall, while Inter is chasing its sixth Italian Cup.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho must find a replacement for center back Lucio, who will miss the match with a right leg muscle problem. Veteran defender Marco Materazzi is a possible selection.

Roma will have home-ground advantage, as the final will be played at the Stadio Olimpico.

Coach Claudio Ranieri rested captain Francesco Totti and Luca Toni for a half each in a win over Parma on Saturday, freshening them for the final, and also has Mirko Vucinic to choose from in attack.