Leaders AC Milan meet champions Inter Milan late Saturday in a Serie A derby that can have a huge impact on the rest of the season.
Milan are two points clear of Inter at the top, meaning they could either pull five points clear or find themselves one point down after the 90 minutes at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic said he thinks that his side can draw a little psychological advantage from still being in contention for the league title, the Champions League and the Italian Cup, all of which they won in their past memorable season.
"We could be the favourite considering the latest results, but derbies are beyond any expectation," the Serb veteran said. "Of Milan, I fear the combative grit."
The Nerazzurri are in the Champions League quarter-finals where they meet Germany's Schalke in the first leg on Tuesday. In the Serie A, they won four matches and drew another since a mid-February defeat at Juventus.
By contrast, March was disappointing for Milan, who were eliminated in the Champions League and drew at home with bottom side Bari before losing 1-0 at Palermo.
Their sluggish pace allowed Inter's comeback. The champions struggled early in the season, but switched gears when Brazilian coach Leonardo took over in late December, almost making up a 13- deficit inherited from his Spanish predecessor Rafael Benitez.
The big match will have some emotional drama for Leonardo as he leads the Nerazzurri against the Devils, where he spent 13 years as player, club official and, in the past season, as coach.
Leonardo seems to have retained a good relationship with most Milan players and vice president Adriano Galliani, but he never overcame what he called "an incompatibility" with club owner and Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, which led to his departure.
Galliani cast a wider glance on the remainder of the season, noting that "there are also Napoli and Udinese" in the frame, three and six points behind Milan, respectively.
Napoli will host Inter in the penultimate round, while Milan play at Udinese in the season's final weekend.
"The title race will go down to the wire," Galliani said.
Napoli play Sunday at noon at home to fifth-place Lazio, before Udinese should face a lighter task at struggling Lecce.
A classic Roma-Juventus tie being played late Sunday lost some of its appeal as the two struggling giants only vie for a berth in the Europa League, with Roma currently occupying the second available one, five points ahead of Juve.
Catania and Palermo play a Sicily derby, lowly Cesena host Fiorentina, Chievo welcome troubled Sampdoria. Genoa v Cagliari and Parma v Bari complete the Sunday schedule while Brescia and Bologna start the action on Saturday.
Milan are two points clear of Inter at the top, meaning they could either pull five points clear or find themselves one point down after the 90 minutes at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Inter midfielder Dejan Stankovic said he thinks that his side can draw a little psychological advantage from still being in contention for the league title, the Champions League and the Italian Cup, all of which they won in their past memorable season.
"We could be the favourite considering the latest results, but derbies are beyond any expectation," the Serb veteran said. "Of Milan, I fear the combative grit."
The Nerazzurri are in the Champions League quarter-finals where they meet Germany's Schalke in the first leg on Tuesday. In the Serie A, they won four matches and drew another since a mid-February defeat at Juventus.
By contrast, March was disappointing for Milan, who were eliminated in the Champions League and drew at home with bottom side Bari before losing 1-0 at Palermo.
Their sluggish pace allowed Inter's comeback. The champions struggled early in the season, but switched gears when Brazilian coach Leonardo took over in late December, almost making up a 13- deficit inherited from his Spanish predecessor Rafael Benitez.
The big match will have some emotional drama for Leonardo as he leads the Nerazzurri against the Devils, where he spent 13 years as player, club official and, in the past season, as coach.
Leonardo seems to have retained a good relationship with most Milan players and vice president Adriano Galliani, but he never overcame what he called "an incompatibility" with club owner and Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, which led to his departure.
Galliani cast a wider glance on the remainder of the season, noting that "there are also Napoli and Udinese" in the frame, three and six points behind Milan, respectively.
Napoli will host Inter in the penultimate round, while Milan play at Udinese in the season's final weekend.
"The title race will go down to the wire," Galliani said.
Napoli play Sunday at noon at home to fifth-place Lazio, before Udinese should face a lighter task at struggling Lecce.
A classic Roma-Juventus tie being played late Sunday lost some of its appeal as the two struggling giants only vie for a berth in the Europa League, with Roma currently occupying the second available one, five points ahead of Juve.
Catania and Palermo play a Sicily derby, lowly Cesena host Fiorentina, Chievo welcome troubled Sampdoria. Genoa v Cagliari and Parma v Bari complete the Sunday schedule while Brescia and Bologna start the action on Saturday.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire