Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco throughout the heat up earlier than the match. Picture: REUTERS
MILAN:
Milan takes centre stage on Sunday night time as town’s two soccer giants face off on the San Siro with prime spot in Serie A up for grabs, whereas troubled Napoli attempt to reset after the worldwide break.
Inter Milan lead the pack, on objective distinction from Roma, as Italy’s prime flight returns to the enduring area after it hosted the nationwide group’s bracing defeat to Norway final weekend.
Cristian Chivu’s group are two factors forward of AC Milan, who sit behind Roma in third place and forward of the weekend’s headline conflict.
Inter have received 11 of their final 12 matches in all competitions, their one defeat in that run coming at Napoli final month, and have established themselves as favourites for the Scudetto.
After the derby Inter journey to Atletico Madrid the place they’ll put one foot within the final 16 after successful all 4 of their earlier European matches.
Marcus Thuram may make his first begin for Inter since September after absolutely recovering from a hamstring harm which brought on him to overlook out on France’s World Cup qualifiers final week and in October.
However Denzel Dumfries is more likely to miss the derby with an ankle harm, that means Carlos Augusto will change from the left flank to supply width.
Milan in the meantime have Adrien Rabiot again from his calf harm picked up on worldwide responsibility with France final month, with coach Massimiliano Allegri hoping each he and midfield associate Luka Modric will play their first Milan derby.
Champions Napoli are degree on 22 factors with Milan, however despite the fact that they’re firmly within the title battle all will not be properly in Naples, with Antonio Conte being given a number of days away to chill off throughout the worldwide break.
Conte exploded with anger after Napoli’s 2-0 defeat at fifth-placed Bologna, who’re solely three factors from the summit forward of their journey to Udinese on Saturday.
The 56-year-old mentioned that he wasn’t ready to “accompany the useless”, a reference to a group he mentioned lacked coronary heart and one which sparked rumours of him resigning earlier than Saturday night time’s go to of Atalanta.
Conte shall be with out key midfielder Andre-Frank Anguissa who suffered a hamstring harm with Cameroon, a knock which is able to maintain him out till subsequent 12 months and infuriated Napoli proprietor Aurelio De Laurentiis, who demanded compensation to golf equipment who lose gamers to harm whereas they’re away with their international locations.
Additionally on Saturday, Luciano Spalletti recommences his bid to revive Juventus at rock-bottom Fiorentina, the place the 66-year-old performed at youth degree within the Seventies.
Spalletti was born close to Florence and Started his lengthy managerial profession up the street at Empoli over 30 years in the past, and he returns to Tuscany with Fiorentina backside of the division and determined to show their season round beneath new coach Paolo Vanoli.
Participant to look at: Ademola Lookman
It has been a troubled season for Lookman, brought on partially by his pushing for a summer season transfer to Inter which led to him being frozen out by Atalanta’s former coach Ivan Juric.
However with Juric sacked and Raffaelle Palladino now in place it may very well be a brand new begin for the Nigeria ahead in opposition to Napoli in Naples.
Lookman, who has solely scored as soon as since being introduced again into the fold in September, was the star of Gian Piero Gasperini’s closing Atalanta group, and he shall be key if Palladino is to tug the Bergamo membership out of their present funk.
The 28-year-old confirmed clear unhappiness with Juric after being substituted throughout Atalanta’s Champions League win at Marseille however beneath Palladino has an opportunity to show over a brand new leaf.
Key stats
6 – The variety of factors which separate league leaders Inter from Juventus in sixth.
5 – Hakan Calhanoglu and Riccardo Orsolini lead the scoring charts with 5 targets, with 12 gamers under them on 4.
Fixtures (occasions GMT)
Saturday
Cagliari v Genoa, Udinese v Bologna (1400), Fiorentina v Juventus (1700), Napoli v Atalanta (1945)
Sunday
Verona v Parma (1130), Cremonese v Roma (1400), Lazio v Lecce (1700), Inter Milan v AC Milan (1945)
Monday
Torino v Como (1730), Sassuolo v Pisa (1945)
