Milan teams look to get back on track as Juventus close gap

With both Milan clubs falling to league defeats midweek, they would be looking to get their respective campaigns back on track even as their closest opponents, champions Juventus and Roma, close the gap on the leaders.

AC Milan remain one point ahead of second-placed Inter despite Juventus ending their 27-match unbeaten league run with Inter’s eight-match winning streak ending at Sampdoria.

Stefano Pioli’s Milan have a chance to consolidate their lead at home against 17th-placed Torino on Saturday, a day before Inter face a tricky trip to Roma, who are three points behind their opponents in third.

Both Milan clubs have injury worries.

Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains sidelined for a ninth consecutive league game with midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu joining the growing Milan injury list with an ankle problem.

Matteo Gabbia, Ismael Bennacer and Alexis Saelemaekers are also out injured with midfielder Rade Krunic and forward Ante Rebic sidelined with coronavirus.

Antonio Conte’s Inter are hopeful of forward Romelu Lukaku’s return to full fitness after a leg muscle problem limited him to half an hour’s play against Sampdoria, during which defender Danilo D’Ambrosio picked up knee ligament damage.

A fourth consecutive league win for Roma would allow the capital side to move level on points with Inter.

Juventus are fourth, seven points off top spot, and on Sunday also face a tough tie at home against Sassuolo, one point behind the champions in fifth.

However, Andrea Pirlo has a larger squad to rotate even without Covid-hit Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado, and forward Federico Chiesa a doubt with a niggling hip problem following his double against Milan.

“In terms of my choices, I’m lucky enough to be able to select the team game after game based on what we’re trying to achieve and how the opposition play,” said Pirlo.

“We’ve shown that this team is still so hungry,” added defender Leonardo Bonucci of their push for a 10th straight league title.

Sixth-placed Napoli travel to Udinese to keep their European push on track after a shocking error-strewn defeat to newcomers Spezia.


Italian League fixtures (all times GMT):

On Saturday: Benevento vs Atalanta (1400), Genoa vs Bologna (1700),

AC Milan vs Torino (1945);

On Sunday: AS Roma vs Inter Milan (1130), Udinese vs Napoli, Hellas Verona vs Crotone, Parma vs Lazio (all 1400), Fiorentina vs Cagliari (1700), Juventus vs Sassuolo (1945); On Monday: Spezia vs Sampdoria (1945)