Mirko Vucinic and Samuel Eto'o were on target as Roma held Inter to a San Siro draw and cut their lead at the top to five points.

Jose Mourinho took on Claudio Ranieri in a grudge match with many different layers. The Nerazzurri needed a win to keep their seven-point lead intact, but it was no longer the Scudetto battle it was in recent years, as Roma have plummeted down the standings. Confidence was boosted on both ends by midweek results, as they fought back for crucial wins over Dynamo Kiev and Fulham.

Francesco Totti, Juan, Alexander Doni, ex-Inter defender Nicolas Burdisso and the suspended Rodrigo Taddei didn't make the trip, but Inter had a full squad to choose from. Mourinho was hoping to mark his 150th consecutive unbeaten League home game, while Ranieri's record against the Portuguese boss was of four wins, 10 draws and six defeats.

Inter haven't won this fixture since a Sinisa Mihajlovic brace on February 12 2005, followed by two defeats and as many draws.

Mirko Vucinic somehow failed to score 120 seconds in. Jeremy Menez immediately sent the through ball from midfield for the Montenegrin to sprint clear on goal, but he hesitated and allowed Lucio to catch him.

Dejan Stankovic and Vucinic blasted over, while Simone Perrotta just failed to connect with a low cross from the right.

Roma had the best chances early on and took the lead after 13 minutes. Marco Motta's very long cross-field ball found a whipsmart Vucinic header that looped over Julio Cesar into the near top corner.

Inter fought back, as Diego Milito sprung the offside trap and Julio Sergio did very well to rush out and charge down from point-blank range.

There was a real scare when Julio Sergio fumbled a poor Marco Andreolli backpass under pressure, but Philippe Mexes kept his cool to dribble his way out of trouble.

Daniele De Rossi accidentally got an elbow to the head from Patrick Vieira and was forced off the field looking dazed. It was another terrible injury blow, losing the captain to a suspected fractured cheekbone, replaced by Ricardo Faty.

A free kick was touched on for a John Arne Riise special from 20 metres that whistled inches wide of the near post with the aid of a deflection.

At the other end Sulley Muntari's cross-shot from the left flank was flying under the bar before Julio Sergio flew to palm it over.

Moments later Muntari was booked despite begging the referee and practically holding the card down. The tension rose and Menez was also carded for virulent protests that saw him go chest-to-chest with the referee.

Mourinho made a double substitution for the second half, throwing on Wesley Sneijder and Mario Balotelli for Muntari and Vieira. Within three minutes the all-new Nerazzurri had equalised. The ball ricocheted around the box until Javier Zanetti's through ball found Eto'o for an angled drive from eight yards.

Menez went on a solo run for a shot that was charged down for a corner and Riise's free kick from 34 metres flashed wide.

Julio Cesar beat away a fierce menez half-volley from the edge of the box and the Inter defence scrambled the loose ball clear.

Esteban Cambiasso replaced Thiago Motta in the final Inter substitution, but there was a scuffle between Mexes and Balotelli. Vucinic was an injury doubt for this game and limped off for Stefano Okaka.

The Roma teen burst through two defenders in the centre circle and exchanged passes to blast just over. Andreolli prove crucial in preventing Milito from nodding in a Maicon cross.

Roma had another great chance on 79 minutes when a sliderule pass sent Faty clear, but he slipped at the crucial moment and Julio Cesar managed to beat away the bobbling shot.

Balotelli's angled drive flashed across the face of goal and Milito just failed to make contact from seven yards.

Milito put the ball in the back of the net in stoppages, but was correctly flagged offside from Cambiasso's headed assist.