Roma went six months without losing, but when they did (two weeks ago to Sampdoria) Internazionale was there to reclaim first place in the Serie A and resume course of a fifth consecutive scudetto.
Never mind that's more league titles than Roma's won in the club's entire history. The Giallorossi can take a measure of satisfaction today if they defeat the Nerazzurri in the Coppa Italia final.
It will be Inter's second match in four days at the Stadio Olimpico, where they downed Lazio this weekend in front of a supportive, anti-Roma crowd. Today's crowd will be more hostile, as will their hosts, with the relegation-battling Lazio making way for a Roma team that downed Inter 2-1 on March 27.
These two teams are no stranger to meeting in Coppa finals, today being their fifth Coppa final in six years. Inter won the first two meetings (2004-05 and 2005-06) with Roma winning the next two tournaments, tying Juventus as the most successful team in the competition's history (nine wins).
Roma' priority will be defending that legacy, hoping to win this trophy with their Serie A chances slipping awway.
Inter, conversely, is looking to win the first of three potential trophies this season. In addition to the scudetto, the Coppa Italia could join the UEFA Champions League as part of Internazionale's treble. The Nerazzurri meet Bayern Munich in Madrid on May 22 for Europe's club championship.
The first step to that treble will have to be done without center half Lucio, who injured his calf on the weekend against Lazio. There are also murmurs that Wesley Sneijder could be withheld, though the Dutch playmaker looks likely to play.
Roma has a full team with the exception of Doni, with the injured goalkeeper continuing to give way to countryman Julio Sergio.
Possible lineups
Roma: Julio Sergio - Marco Cassetti, Nicolas Burdisso, Juan, John Arne Riise - Jeremy Menez, Daniele de Rossi, Simone Perotta, Davide Pizarro, Mirko Vucinic - Francesco Totti
Internazionale: Julio César - Maicon, Ivan Cordoba, Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti - Estaben Cambiasson, Thiago Motta, Wesley Sneijder - Goran Pandev, Diego Milito, Samuel Eto'o