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Former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi believes the Champions League is proving a distraction for Inter and has tipped Roma to overtake the reigning Serie A champions in this season’s run-in.

Jose Mourinho’s side lost 2-1 to Roma at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday and Inter’s lead lead at the top of Serie A has been cut to a single point.

Sacchi thinks Claudio Ranieri’s Roma side have what it takes to win the Scudetto this season, with Inter focusing their energy on winning the Champions League.

“The Nerazzurri lost in Rome because of the skill of the Romanisti and because they did not manage to repeat the game they played against Chelsea in terms of intensity and determination,” Sacchi wrote in his Gazzetta dello Sport column.

“It was the game of their life for the Romanisti while it was only an important game for the Interisti. They lacked the furore they showed in London.

“Inter weren’t lucky either, but Ranieri’s players looked for success with more conviction. The mind of the Nerazzurri was already in tomorrow’s game against CSKA.

“If there wasn’t this run of defeats before European matches it would have been difficult for the League to escape Mourinho’s side.”

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