Roma opened the Serie A weekend Saturday with a 1-1 draw at Cagliari that pushed them to within three points of leaders Inter Milan. ( dpa )
Inter play a late game at Lazio looking to improve their 68-point tally and resume winning ways after a draw and a defeat in their last two matches.
An own goal from Matteo Ferrari in the second minute put Roma behind at the Sant'Elia stadium, where the Sardinia hosts produced a sparkling start but conceded a 45th-minute equalizer as Francesco Totti drilled home a free kick.
Cagliari came close with Michele Fini a few seconds from the whistle and on nine minutes saw a lob from Pasquale Foggia fly high past the onrushing goalkeeper Alexander Doni.
Roma missed the suspended internationals Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta and Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic.
Two major chances went begging for Roma as Brazilian Mancini on 22 minutes squandered an opportunity from a few metres out and two minutes later he fired against the post.
Frenchman Ludovic Giuly had a drive from distance deflected by the home goalkeeper Marco Storari, while Cagliari replied with a wide header from defender Michele Canini.
Captain Totti showed his worth after an indifferent first half aiming a low long-range free kick to the right of a dithering Storari.
Giuly opened the second half with a central drive followed by a wide one before the just fielded Alberto Aquilani nodded wide a cross from Cicinho and tried an elegant flick with his heel that met Storari's hands.
A close-range header from Totti off a precise Mancini cross was Roma's final chance blocked on the goal line by Storari's boot.