Serie A leaders Inter Milan have been declared the world's most in-form club by the International Federation of Football History And Statistics (IFFHS).
The authoritative German-based organization named Inter the sport's best club in November, a month in which Roberto Mancini's men won all of their European and domestic games.
Inter, the reigning Serie A champions, carried their superb form into December on Saturday evening, beating Siena (10th) 2-0 to stay four points clear at the top of the table.
It was their 11th consecutive win in all competitions - a club record.
The title race has become a duel with second-placed AS Roma, the only side capable of keeping up with Inter's blistering pace.
Roma came back from behind to beat Atalanta (8th) 2-1 Saturday courtesy of two penalties by captain Francesco Totti.
The spot-kicks took Totti to the helm of the league's top-scorer table, alongside Messina's Christian Rigano', with nine goals.
IFFHS's rankings for the last 12 months were a different story, because of quirks in the complicated system of calculations used to compile the table.
Inter were only fourth and Roma a slot above them in third, both preceded by currently struggling AC Milan in second and Spanish club Sevilla - who finished fifth in La Liga but won the UEFA Cup - in top spot.
Milan could do no better than a 2-2 draw at Cagliari (13th) on Sunday afternoon and are down in 15th position.
Third-placed Palermo lost further ground on the leaders by drawing 0-0 at Parma (17th). After sharing the top spot with Inter in the middle of November, Palermo are now eight points behind them.
On a positive note, the draw did end a sequence of four straight defeats in all competitions for the Sicilians.
Torino (11th) toasted the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the club's foundation with a 1-0 victory over Empoli (6th). It was the Turin side's third consecutive win.
Chievo Verona (16th) and Sampdoria (12th) picked up 2-0 away wins at Livorno (4th) and Messina (14th) respectively.
Fiorentina (18th) beat Lazio (7th) 1-0 and ended the Biancocelesti's three-match winning streak.
Next weekend Lazio will be bidding to dent the title ambitions of cross-town rivals Roma in the capital's derby.
In Sunday's other Serie A matches, Udinese (9th) drew with Reggina (bottom) and Ascoli (19th) tied 2-2 with Catania (5th).
