Cicinho confident Roma can snatch scudetto

The Serie A title race, which once looked a stroll for Internazionale, reaches a gripping climax this afternoon with Roma hoping to seal an astonishing triumph. Luciano Spalletti's side have all but closed an 11-point deficit on Inter and victory at Catania today will give them the title if the defending champions fail to win at Parma.

Adding to the tension is that both host teams need points to avoid relegation. Parma, whose 18-year stay in Serie A will end if they lose, this week sacked the former Inter coach Hector Cuper and replaced him with youth team coach Andrea Manzo. Inter, whose fans have been banned from travelling for fear of crowd trouble, hope to have Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to take a place on the bench.

Catania need only a draw to ensure their survival, but that would end Roma's title ambition. "I know the Inter players are under a lot of pressure," said Roma's Cicinho. "We are very concentrated and feel good. So I'm convinced Roma will win the scudetto."

Also to be determined is the identity of Italy's second entrant, alongside Juventus, into the qualifying round of the Champions League. Fiorentina will clinch it if they win at Torino, or Milan, still the holders until Wednesday's final, fail to defeat Udinese.

The other major league title still to be decided is in France where Lyons can complete a seventh consecutive title with a point at Auxerre. Should they lose, Bordeaux will mark Laurent Blanc's first season in management with the championship if they win at Lens. Such a result would send Lens down. Lyons are without the suspended Sidney Govou, but Bordeaux have lost playmaker Johan Micoud to a calf injury.

Nancy, the club which launched Michel Platini as a player, and Arsène Wenger's coaching career, will come third, the club's highest league finish, if they beat Rennes. They will also claim a Champions League qualifying round place.

Paris St-Germain will go down if they lose at Sochaux and both Lens and Toulouse win.

The only issue to be decided in Spain is the final relegation place with Real Zaragoza, Osasuna, Recreativo Huelva or Valladolid going down with Levante and Real Murcia.

Levante are due at Real Madrid today, but their players are refusing to play unless they are paid £10.3m of the £14.3m they claim they are owed.