Internazionale were held to a 1-1 draw by Lazio in Rome, wasting the chance to move six points clear of Roma after they also drew 1-1 at Cagliari.

Inter opened the scoring in the first half through Hernan Crespo, only for Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi to spring the offside trap and finish low inside the far post in the second period.

Inter looked content to hit Lazio on the counter throughout the first half and right up to the equalising goal.

Their well-worked opener arrived on only 11 minutes, right-back Maicon released down the flank and squaring low from the by-line for Argentina star Crespo to finish with veteran 'keeper Marco Ballotta committed.

Cristian Ledesma and Ousmane Dabo both caused Julio Cesar problems with shots from outside the penalty area while Goran Pandev almost found a way through five players with a run late in the half.

Inter could have snatched a second before the break when Maicon crossed in the air from the same position as the move for the goal, but Ballotta just got enough of a hand on the ball.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Crespo were largely snuffed out and Inter paid the price when a long ball forward from Ledesma put Rocchi through alone on goal.

There was a hint of offside about his run, but the flag stayed down and he calmly waited for his chance to beat Cesar.

Valon Behrami's deflected shot looped down and over Cesar, who flung himself backwards to tip over as Lazio looked for three points.

Behrami could have had a penalty under a challenge from Maicon, but was waved away. Dabo then produced the best strike of the match from 30 yards, defeating Cesar all ends up and shaking the crossbar.

The match ended all-square, putting Inter four points clear of Roma again and Lazio level on points with Atalanta in ninth.

Cagliari 1-1 Roma

Roma missed the chance to close the gap with league leaders Inter after being held at Cagliari.

Roma went behind to a second-minute own goal from Matteo Ferrari, before Francesco Totti levelled with a 30-yard free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

As the game opened up in the second period, Roma missed a host of chances to seal victory.

Substitute Alberto Aquilani came close with a fierce shot after 70 minutes, and Cincinho blasted just over.

Roma thought they'd scored late on when Totti met Alessandro Mancini's cross and sent his header goalward.

Marco Storari got down superbly to save, however, and despite appeals the ball was judged not to have crossed the line.

Jonathan Symcox & Will Tidey / Eurosport