Gasperini's position at Roma hangs in the balance amidst internal turmoil threatening Champions League ambitions

Gian Piero Gasperini's position as Roma coach is under scrutiny due to a rift with Claudio Ranieri, which is dominating the buildup to the team's clash with Atalanta on Saturday, a match that could be crucial to Roma's chances of reaching the Champions League.

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Last summer, Gasperini took over as Roma coach after leaving Atalanta, where he had spent nine successful years, and was initially praised by Ranieri, who is now a senior advisor to the club's owners, the billionaire Friedkin family.

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Gasperini has publicly criticized Roma's transfer dealings and suggested that he was not involved in the signing of some players, which has led to a fracture in his relationship with Ranieri, known for being a prickly character.

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Ranieri has countered Gasperini's claims, stating that the coach was consulted on every signing since his arrival in June, and has even hinted that he may step down at the end of the season, saying "I'm advisor to the Friedkins, not to Gasperini."

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Ranieri also emphasized that Gasperini had given his approval for every player signing, saying "Not one player has come here without his approval… if they haven’t settled in or not been good enough, we can change them."

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The public spat between Gasperini and Ranieri has drawn comment from Roma legend Francesco Totti, who has called on the pair to "show respect to the fans" and end their infighting.

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Italian media outlets are widely reporting that either Gasperini or Ranieri will leave the club at the end of the season, which is now just six matches away and still has one major objective for Roma - qualifying for the Champions League.

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Roma have not played in the Champions League since being eliminated by Porto in the last 16 seven years ago, and their chances of qualifying this season are still uncertain, with the team currently sitting in sixth place, three points behind fourth-placed Juventus.

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Roma have struggled in recent matches, losing three of their last five league games, and have only managed to win once against a direct rival for a top-four spot, beating Como in December.

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Meanwhile, Inter Milan are hosting Cagliari on Friday, looking to take another step towards what appears to be a certain 21st league title, following their thrilling win at Como last weekend, which put them nine points clear of Napoli.

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Inter could potentially win the Scudetto before the end of the month, but this would require them to win their next two matches and Napoli to fail to win both of theirs, which seems unlikely given Napoli's upcoming fixtures against Lazio and Cremonese.

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One player to watch is Denzel Dumfries, who has returned to form after a season disrupted by surgery on his left ankle, and showed his importance to Inter with a brace and strong performance at Como.

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Dumfries' return to form is timely, not just for Inter, but also for the Netherlands, with the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico approaching.

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Key statistics include the fact that Inter may only need two more matches to secure the Serie A title, and that six points separate Juventus from Atalanta, who are in seventh place.

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The upcoming fixtures include Sassuolo v Como on Friday, Inter v Cagliari on Friday, Udinese v Parma on Saturday, Napoli v Lazio on Saturday, and Roma v Atalanta on Saturday, among others.