Round-Up: Roma survive at Turin to regain second spot

Roma moved back up to second place in Serie A yesterday, though they were fortunate to get away with a 0-0 draw at Torino after the hosts wasted several good chances.

Roma, who were five points behind Internazionale at the beginning of the day, were missing the talismanic Francesco Totti as well as their suspended striker Rodrigo Taddei. The home side, meanwhile, were without Alvaro Recoba and started with David di Michele and Sasa Bjelanovic in attack.

Bjelanovic and Hernan Paolo Dellafiore both went into the book for challenges born out of frustration as the Turin side struggled for the ball. However, their midfield worked hard to get a hold of the play, and the veteran Eugenio Corini's industry, allied to the lithe play-making of Alessandro Rosina, was too much at times for Roma who none the less went one point ahead of third-placed Juventus, who won 3-2 at Lazio on Saturday thanks to Alessandro Del Piero's second-half double.

Leaders Inter were due to visit struggling Cagliari, who lie 19th in the table, last night without a number of their best players, including the suspended striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Fifth-placed Fiorentina failed to make much progress when Antonio Cassano's second-half header secured a 2-2 home draw for Sampdoria.

In Germany, Ivan Klasnic scored his first goals since returning from a kidney transplant. Klasnic started his first home game for Werder Bremen in almost exactly a year on Saturday and scored twice in a 5-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

The 27-year-old Croatia striker sank to his knees and bowed his head after scoring the first goal and it was a while before he was able to get up and celebrate.

"I needed five seconds just to come to terms with that first goal," Klasnic said. "I'd promised my family I'd score and I've managed it."

The France international Franck Ribry received the 2007 French Player of the Year award yesterday. The Bayern Munich forward won the poll of former award winners organised by France Football magazine. The Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, winner for the last four years, came second ahead of the Lyons forward Karim Benzema.