In the post-Calciopoli era and for some years, the clash between Roma and Inter was worth the Italian scudetto. That was the most recurring game at the highest level in Italy, even for the Coppa Italia, when the Giallorossi and the Nerazzurri clashed in the final act for four times in a row (from 2004-2005 to 2007-2008) with a perfect balance, as Inter raised the trophy in the first two finals and Roma won the cup inthe latest two.

Many unforgettable games would deserve to be told, but this time we picked another match, more distant in time, in a very negative term for both sides. In the 1998-99, Roma were under Zdenek Zeman's guidance while Inter were led by the current England coach Roy Hodgson, who was the last survivor of a hot-as-hell bench, as Gigi Simoni, Mircea Lucescu and Luciano Castellini had already been axed by Massimo Moratti.

Inter ended in the 8th place that season, while Roma qualified at least for the UEFA Cup ending 5th, one point only behind Parma, the last team that acceded to the Champions League. That was a bad season for both, but Inter and Roma had two very different destinies awaiting for them. Inter fans still had to see the coach of their fiercest rivals (Marcello Lippi), sitting on Inter's bench with frightful results; the sale of Roberto Baggio and a title lost in the last matchday in favour of... Lippi's Juventus. 

At the end of that 1998-99 Roma would replace Zeman with Fabio Capello, and the Giallorossi would win the title 24 months after that crazy defeat at the Olimpico stadium. But the backbone of the 2000-2001 winning team was already wearing the red-and-yellow jersey.

The game was a stress for Roma and Inter fans, but an amazing show for the neutrals. How could it be otherwise when Aldair, Francesco Totti, Ronaldo, Zamorano and Paulo Sergio are on the same pitch in the same night?

Roma-Inter 4-5. 16' Ronaldo, 21' Zamorano, 25' Totti (pen), 34' Zamorano, 47' Paulo Sergio, 48' Delvecchio, 55' Ronaldo, 78' Di Francesco, 87' Simeone.