Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez in motion with AC Milan’s Strahinja Pavlovic. Photograph: REUTERS
MILAN:
The New 12 months kicks off with 4 factors separating the highest 5 within the Serie A standings with Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli, AS Roma and Juventus all with a sensible shot on the title.
Inter maintain prime spot after a four-match successful run and on Sunday they host Bologna who put an finish to their Italian Tremendous Cup hopes this month with a semi-final win on penalties.
Bologna have hit a dip in league type, and not using a win of their final 4 video games to slide to seventh and 10 factors adrift of Inter, who’re nonetheless with out the injured Denzel Dumfries, Francesco Acerbi and Ange-Yoan Bonny.
Inter are the highest scorers within the league, with 35 objectives in 16 video games and this season’s main marksman in Serie A, Lautaro Martinez with 9 objectives, will lead the road on the San Siro alongside Marcus Thuram.
Milan, second within the standings and one level behind their neighbours, journey to Cagliari on Friday. Massimiliano Allegri’s facet are unbeaten in 16 league video games whereas Cagliari have gained solely two out of eight dwelling matches.
Rafael Leao is an harm doubt for Milan, however Allegri could have striker Niclas Fullkrug accessible after his current arrival on mortgage from West Ham United.
The German will seemingly be on the bench with Christian Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku set to begin up entrance as Milan purpose to maneuver prime after they kick off the weekend’s motion and put strain on Inter.
Hojlund revival beneath Conte
Napoli returned from their Tremendous Cup success with a win at Cremonese to remain third and sit two factors off the leaders forward of an away recreation at Lazio on Sunday the place the league champions come up in opposition to former supervisor Maurizio Sarri, who underwent a minor coronary heart operation this week however was anticipated to return to his common duties inside days.
Napoli revitalised the profession of Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay after his arrival from Manchester United final season and Antonio Conte appears to be doing the identical with Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund has netted six league objectives for Napoli, with 4 of these coming within the final three video games, and his mortgage transfer from United is prone to be made everlasting after his spectacular begin on the membership.
Roma are fourth, three factors behind Inter with a recreation extra performed, and Gian Piero Gasperini comes up in opposition to his former membership Atalanta in Saturday’s away recreation.
Gasperini spent 9 seasons answerable for Atalanta and has hit the bottom working in his first marketing campaign at Roma. His facet have the perfect defensive file within the league, conceding 11 objectives in 17 video games.
Regardless of three defeats of their final 5, Roma are nonetheless within the title chase and have but to attract a recreation this season in 23 matches throughout all competitions.
Juventus, one level behind Roma in fifth, host struggling Lecce on Saturday. The guests are sixteenth within the standings, 4 factors above the relegation zone.
