Juventus host ailing Milan as Napoli pile pressure on Roma

League champions Juventus spurned the chance to extend their Serie A lead to nine points last week following an unexpected scoreless draw away to Udinese. AFP PHOTO / MARCO BERTORELLO

Milan // Champions Juventus host ailing AC Milan looking to extend their seven-point lead over title-chasers Roma, and the Giallorossi’s woes could deepen with Gonzalo Higuain-inspired Napoli now targeting second place.

Juventus spurned the chance to extend their Serie A lead to nine points last week following an unexpected scoreless draw away to Udinese.

But with Roma conceding a fourth draw on the trot, Massimiliano Allegri’s league leaders look to be cruising towards a fourth consecutive league title.

“Winning four titles in succession is not an easy feat, especially in such a tactical and physical league,” striker Carlos Tevez, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Thursday, told Jtv.

“Winning a fourth consecutive championship would see us make even more history.”

Nevertheless, Italy’s top flight produced several shock results last weekend and Roma, dumped out of the Italian Cup after a 2-0 home defeat to Fiorentina, have yet to throw in the towel.

Napoli were the only top five team to claim all three points, thanks to a 2-1 win away to Chievo when new signing Manolo Gabbiadini hit a 62nd minute winner.

It was a huge win for Rafael Benitez’s men, and its significance did not escape the attention of Roma either. Napoli, who sit 11 points adrift of Juventus, are now only four behind second-placed Roma.

If the injury-hit Giallorossi lose away to Cagliari and Napoli beat Udinese at home, the gap will be reduced to just a point.

Roma striker Gervinho, along with new signing Seydou Doumbia, is still at the Africa Cup of Nations having scored once in a 3-1 win over DR Congo which qualified the Ivory Coast for Sunday’s final.

Kevin Strootman (knee) is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines and fellow midfielders Daniele De Rossi and Juan Iturbe are also out with injury knocks.

Even forward Victor Ibarbo, who arrived on a six-month loan deal last week from Cagliari, has been sidelined after making a late substitute’s appearance in Roma’s Cup defeat on Tuesday.

The pressure is growing on Garcia and the Frenchman admitted: “We need a result at Cagliari to get luck back on our side.”

A Roma slip-up would be welcomed by a Napoli side that has lost only twice in 18 games ahead of hosting Udinese at the San Paolo, which is still ringing from the sound of Wednesday’s 1-0 Italian Cup win over Inter.

Higuain, whose 93rd minute strike secured the win for the Cup holders, is in fine scoring form having hit the net five times in their past five league games.

Rafael Benitez was quick to hail Higauin’s performance, but despite his ambitions in the the Cup, Europa League and Serie A the Spanish coach remains coy.

“It’s a bit like asking whether you prefer your Mum or your Dad,” Benitez said after Wednesday’s win. “All I focus on is our next game.”

Inter, meanwhile, host in-form Palermo on Sunday looking to end a sorry run of results that has seen the Nerazzurri drop to 13th, 24 points behind Juventus.

Inter had only two shots on goal against Napoli on Wednesday and Mancini, who won two trophies from four consecutive Cup finals in his previous spell in charge in 2004-2008, did not spare his misfiring players.

“They were like chickens,” said Mancini, whose side have lost their past two league outings at home to Torino and away to Sassuolo. “I don’t even remember the last time I lost three consecutive games.”

Thanks to results elsewhere last week, and a 3-1 win over Parma that ended a five-game winless streak, city rivals AC Milan moved up to ninth at 21 points adrift of Juventus and 10 behind Napoli in third place.

Embattled Milan unveiled several new players on Thursday including Mattia Destro (Roma), Gabriel Paletta (Parma) and Luca Antonelli (Cagliari) - although Juve have yet to concede defeat in the league this season.

Italian Serie A fixtures (in UAE time)

Saturday

Verona v Torino, 9pm

Juventus v AC Milan, 11.45pm

Sunday

Fiorentina v Atalanta, 3.30pm

Cagliari v Roma, 6pm

Empoli v Cesena, 6pm

Napoli v Udinese, 6pm

Parma v Chievo, 6pm

Sampdoria v Sassuolo, 6pm

Inter v Palermo, 6pm

Monday

Lazio v Genoa, 11.45pm

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