By Alberto Cagliano Nov 5, 2009, 8:48 GMT
Rome - Many in Italy believe that the Serie A season is already over with less than a third of matches played as Inter Milan look well on the way to securing a fifth straight title.
Jose Mourinho's side top the standings on 28 points, holding a seven-point lead after just 11 games - a record for the Serie A - and have scored 28 goals, 11 more than last year.
The blue-blacks had dithered in the Champions League, with only three draws clinched, but a 2-1 win after coming from behind at Dynamo Kiev Wednesday pushed them at the top of their group with two games to go.
'A fantastic performance, with heart, emotions, will,' Mourinho said. 'Now we have six points. It takes three more to qualify for the final 16.
'We expect to achieve them against Barcelona and Rubin Kazan, but we'll try and get them already at the Nou Camp (on November 24). We went to Kiev as bottom side, now we are first.'
Inter's big lead in the Serie A owes much to the inconsistency of their opponents, namely Juventus, lying second next to surprising Sampdoria, and AC Milan, who trail nine points adrift.
Juve were suicidal last weekend, going two up only to allow Napoli to come from behind for an incredible 3-2 win in Turin.
Things, but not their erratic game, improved Tuesday with a 1-0 edging of hosts Maccabi Haifa, which placed Juve in a comfortable second place with a four-point lead on Bayern Munich.
'It was a little step forward,' defender Giorgio Chiellini said, while Mauro Camoranesi noted that 'the team are still trying to find themselves.'
Late Saturday, Juve are away to lowly Atalanta after buoyant Napoli visit Catania, while Inter close the weekend hosting troubled AS Roma late Sunday.
Milan drew 1-1 at home to Real Madrid and lead their Champions League group jointly with the Spaniards.
A visit to struggling Lazio awaits the Devils on Sunday afternoon, when Samp visit in-form Cagliari.
Fiorentina also did well in midweek as they thrashed Debrecen 5-2 to virtually secure qualification and are fifth in the Serie A as they gear up for an away game to Udinese.
Genoa lie joint sixth with Napoli and promoted Parma when they welcome bottom-side Siena, Parma host Chievo, Bari and Livorno play a newcomers tie and Bologna take on Palermo.
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