Roma's lead in Serie A stays wafer-thin heading into round six
Roma continue to occupy the top of Serie A after five matches, though their position at the summit carries no cushion at all, with the chasing side level with them on points.
That parity means the smallest slip in either camp could reshuffle the table before the next round is finished.
A race with no gap
Having already been described this week as clinging on with no room to spare, Roma's situation has not changed materially: they remain first only by virtue of secondary standings, not by any points advantage.
For a club used to being talked about in title terms, the lack of separation from the pack means every fixture now carries outsized importance.
What comes next
With the season seven matchdays old overall, Roma's coaching staff and squad will be aware that maintaining top spot depends on results rather than reputation.
Should results elsewhere in the coming rounds break in their favour, Roma could finally open daylight between themselves and their rivals — but for now, the race remains as tight as it has been all season.