If Internazionale are to crown their centenary year with a 16th championship then they will have do it away to relegation threatened Parma after letting a lead slip twice to Siena at the San Siro.

Patrick Vieira headed Inter into a lead with 11 minutes on the clock, only to see his effort cancelled out by the elusive Massimo Maccarone on the half hour mark.

On the stroke of half-time Vieira turned provider, flicking on a Maicon throw for Mario Balotelli to head into an empty net.

Inter started the second half a model of composure only to see a wonderful Houssine Kharja strike postpone their Scudetto party.

The Nerazzurri began the game menacingly and had two chances in the first minute. The first, from Julio Cruz, was saved; Vieira had the second and by dragging his effort wide set the tone for much of the champions' play.

After surviving the initial onslaught Siena settled and began to play some tidy stuff, Locatelli and Kharja orchestrating much of what was good from the visitors.

With midfield congested, Inter increasingly looked to the wings and their attacking full-backs - Maxwell and Maicon - made great strides down the flanks, forcing successive corners. The first was thudded against the crossbar by last year's hero Marco Materazzi, whilst the second was comfortably dispatched by a dominant Vieira.

Inter continued to dictate most of the play for the next 15 minutes but then eased up and allowed Siena back into the game. Although having more of the ball Siena didn't look likely to threaten the Inter goal, until a clever ball from Kharja allowed Maccarone to fire home from the edge of the six yard box.

Just as the game entered a bit of a lull, a rejuvenated Inter began to pressurise the Siena back four.

An overworked Rossi stabbed another Inter through ball out for what looked like an innocuous throw. Maicon launched the ball into the box, Vieira rose and flicked onto Balotelli, the San Siro sighed a collective sigh of relief as the 17-year-old headed home.

As Inter entered the field for the second half, the equation seemed deceptively simple, contain Siena, retain the Scudetto. Inter started well but were soon shell shocked.

They continued to press and continued to be wasteful - first Cruz and then Jimenez, missed presentable chances. Considering Siena were offering little it seemed that those missed chances would not be rued.

Then on 69 minutes a goal from nothing. Kharja collected a lazy Maxwell clearance and superbly curled low and hard around the helpless Cesar.

Inter's play became rushed as they tried to force a Championship-winning goal, and looked to have run out of ideas only to be handed a lifeline when Christian Riganò fouled Materazzi. The centre back picked himself up, only to fire a tame effort to Manninger's left. The Austrian guessed the right way and pushed the ball out and away from danger.

Inter huffed and puffed but created very few clear-cut chances, and what they did create was wasted. As the final whistle blew Roberto Mancini looked exasperated and enraged, his team for the second consecutive week had wasted the opportunity to win the title.

ROMA 2 ATALANTA 1

Defender Christian Panucci nodded in a free kick midway through the first half and Daniele De Rossi bent in a free kick in the second half to keep Roma's title hopes alive.

Roma are a point behind leaders Inter Milan with one game left.

Gianpaolo Bellini grabbed a late goal back for the visitors, who hit the woodwork earlier through Manuel Belleri.

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FIORENTINA 3 PARMA 1

The hosts came from behind to move into the fourth Champions League spot and leave Parma's Serie A status hanging by a thread after 18 years in the top flight.

Striker Igor Budan netted with an easy header to put Parma ahead early on before Fiorentina hit back thanks to Mario Alberto Santana's tap-in after a number of chances.

Midfielder Franco Semioli's close-range header gave the Florance club the lead before Parma's Marco Rossi was dismissed.

Pablo Osvaldo wrapped up the win late on to put Fiorentina two points ahead of AC Milan with one game left.

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GENOA 0 LAZIO 2

Goran Pandev finished off a superb move to put Lazio ahead before strike partner Tommaso Rocchi tapped in Valon Behrami's pass on halftime in the mid-table game.

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JUVENTUS 1 CATANIA 1

The visitors were a minute from being safe before Juve's Alessandro Del Piero bagged his 19th of the league season to go joint top of the Serie A scoring charts.

Catania's Jorge Martinez had bundled the ball over line early in the second period and they looked to be heading for victory against a Juve side with little to play for.

The Sicilians must now beat AS Roma next weekend to be absolutely sure of safety although a point will probably be enough because of their superior goal difference over Parma.

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LIVORNO 0 TORINO 1

The home side were relegated with a whimper after four seasons in the top flight.

Alessandro Rosina tapped in just before break after some poor Livorno defending with the hosts claiming he was offside.

Francesco Tavano had an effort ruled out for offside for Livorno, who were in the UEFA Cup last season and were previously managed by Italy coach Roberto Donadoni.

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NAPOLI 3 AC MILAN 1

Milan are likely to miss out on the Champions League next season after failing to cope with a vibrant Napoli, who still hope for an Intertoto Cup place.

A stunning goal from Slovakia midfielder Marek Hamsik, who ran half the length of the field before slotting home, set up the victory. Maurizio Domizzi's 69th minute penalty after a foul by Alessandro Nesta made it two and Gyorgy Garics got the third in injury time.

Milan, who scored a very late consolation through Clarence Seedorf, are two points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina with one to play.

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PALERMO 0 SAMPDORIA 2

Antonio Cassano's superb free kick and Christian Maggio's 76th minute goal gave Samp the three points but their Champions League dreams are over following Fiorentina's win.

Palermo striker Amauri failed to find the net on what was likely to be his final home game in the pink shirt ahead of an expected move to Juventus.

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REGGINA 2 EMPOLI 0

Edgar Barreto smacked home from distance before Nicola Amoruso sealed the win which kept Reggina up and left Empoli perilously close to the drop.

The visitors, in the UEFA Cup at the start of season having finished seventh last term, failed to put up enough of a fight in the relegation encounter.

They will go down next weekend unless they beat Livorno and Catania lose against Roma.

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UDINESE 0 CAGLIARI 2

Cagliari made doubly sure they were safe thanks to striker Robert Acquafresca slotting in early in the second half and Andrea Cossu scoring 10 minutes after the break.

Seventh-placed Udinese, assured of a UEFA Cup place, are now sweating over whether they will receive a licence to hold European games.

Marcus Foley / Eurosport / Reuters