In short, Mr Prodi, often portrayed as a crumpled-looking professor more at home teaching economics in his native Bologna than playing politics in Rome, has been a good deal tougher and cannier than he looked.

ECONOMIST: Romano Prodi, Italy��s would-be record-breaker

Lazio and fellow strugglers Bologna were scoreless at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome while Nicola Amoruso's late penalty earned fifth-placed Parma a 1-1 draw at home to Napoli.

CNN: Milito puts Inter seven points clear