Inter waves goodbye to title hopes as Milan rolls on
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AC Milan kept its Serie A title challenge going full throttle on Saturday, strolling past relegation-haunted Sampdoria 3-0 at San Siro.
But deposed European champion Inter Milan can all but wave its title hopes goodbye after slumping at lowly Parma.
Goals from veteran Clarence Seedorf, Antonio Cassano - from the penalty spot - and Robinho saw Milan coast home against Samp as the host motored six points clear of second-placed Napoli.
Inter, already smarting from its Champions League exit at the hands of Schalke, is eight points off the pace and surely out for the championship count.
Sebastian Giovinco and Amauri scored the goals for Parma, late on in either half, to give their side a three-point cushion over Sampdoria. If Milan can hold on to top spot it will lift its first crown since 2004, although Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri insists that he will "keep on dreaming" until the championship is mathematically beyond his men.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri struck a note of caution.
"Five matches still remain. It's true that eight points (on Inter) is a lot but you also have to think about Napoli," Allegri told Sky Sport.
"We have to stand up and be counted in matches as we are doing at the moment and hang right in there to the end."
The Rossoneri were in the driving seat once Seedorf fired them into a 20th-minute lead from a free-kick, banishing any doubts about the effect of the absence of Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is suspended for three matches for swearing at a linesman.
Milan had to overcome further challenges as goalkeeper Christian Abbiati went off injured on 19 minutes, Marco Amelia coming on in his place.
Then forward Alexandre Pato also had to leave the fray, with Cassano coming on. The latter promptly netted from the spot nine minutes after the break after a handball by Daniele Gastaldello following a Mario Yepes header.
Cassano was also at the heart of the build-up for Robinho's headed third on the hour.
Inter, meanwhile, had an evening to forget as it all but adbicated their domestic title.
The treble-winning era of Jose Mourinho now seems a long time in the past as the side now coached by former Milan coach Leonardo limply went down at Parma in the absence of the dropped Maicon and Thiago Motta.
"We need points - eight behind, that's a lot," said Leonardo. "Five behind, you can still believe, but the problem is getting over the tiredness."
All that can save Inter now is to rescue a crumb of comfort via the Coppa Italia. it has a semifinal first leg on Tuesday against Roma.
Roma will also see that tie as a route to silverware salvation after it saw its hopes of bagging a Champions League qualifying spot suffer a big blow following a 3-2 loss at home to Palermo.
The defeat gave neighbor Lazio a boost as it allowed the Biancocelesti to maintain a four-point lead over its rival from the capital prior to Sunday's match at Catania.
