...off the post!

Like most observers outside of Italy, I've only been paying close attention to what's going on at the top of Serie A, as Juve and AC Milan continue to swap positions.

I didn't realize the extent to which Roma's season has gone to hell. The Guardian's James Richardson fills us in on the details:

Roma have now clocked up six defeats and one draw in the last seven matches, plunging them down to just six points off the drop with six games to go. Frankly, at the rate they're going, that may not be enough to save them.

...Worse still, they'll face a sizeable chunk of the remaining games without their captain; Wednesday's red card was Totti's second in four games (the last was for kicking Milan's Massimo Ambrosini) and he's expected to receive a ban of three games or more.

Given that Roma rarely win anything without him, it should make for an interesting run-in. As should the list of teams they'll be facing; four of their direct relegation rivals (Brescia, Parma, Chievo and Atalanta), a Sampdoria side battling to maintain fourth place, and of course, cross-town enemies Lazio, a side that's always especially keen to help out their neighbours.