Strike off and title race back on in Italy

With this weekend’s proposed strike called off, all eyes will be back on the title race in Italy with Juventus hosting Lazio in the most mouth-watering clash tomorrow.

Lazio lie second in Serie A, just three points behind leaders Milan, who travel to Bologna, while Juve are third, another three points further back.

For both sides a victory is absolutely crucial to ensure they hang onto Milan’s coat-tails and don’t lose any more ground in the scudetto race.

The Romans have undoubtedly been the surprise package of this season but having hung in there through 15 games and having beaten champions Inter 3-1 at home in their last match, Lazio can now genuinely consider themselves title challengers.

At least that’s what midfielder Stefano Mauri believes.

“We have the quality to stay at the top, we’ve shown that, but we cannot think that we’ve arrived,” he said.

“We can’t afford to think that we’re at the top, we have to keep working to improve because when a team believes they’ve reached the top, that’s when they start to slide.”

However, the victory over Inter, added to a previous defeat of fourth-placed Napoli and a draw with Milan, has given Lazio the confidence that they are where they belong.

“The victory over Inter gave us a lot, especially the knowledge that we’re a very good team,” added Mauri.

“We had already shown that but this was our best match. The important thing is to stay concentrated, especially in matches against the little teams because we’ve seen that the most successful teams have the right mentality.”

Although they now believe they can challenge for honours, Mauri says no-one in the Lazio dressing room is talking about the scudetto.

“We’re not thinking about that but one thing is for sure, if it comes to that Milan has the best chance of going all the way,” he added.

“They have players who can turn a game in any moment and what’s more they’ve found the right balance.

“We’re in this position, we’re happy and we’re enjoying it.”

Mauri believes the trip to Juve tomorrow will give them another opportunity to test themselves against the best.

“They have a great team, they’ve already said they’re aiming to win the title but we just want to show that we can match them,” said Mauri.

While those two battle it out, most of Serie A will be hoping Bologna can put a dent in Milan’s ambitions and fire the title race wide open again.

Milan are the form team in the league having won nine of their last 11 games and have started to put pressure on the rest.

Expected rivals such as Juventus, Inter and Roma are already six, 10 and 10 points behind respectively.

Champions Inter are likely to fall even further behind over the next two weeks as they compete in the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, meaning they will miss two league fixtures.

That could put them 16 points behind Milan (although with two games in hand) when they next play following the winter break.

Roma host rock bottom Bari looking to bounce back from their recent stuttering form. They lost 3-1 at Palermo and then threw away a 2-0 lead at Chievo to draw 2-2.

Fourth-placed Napoli travel to Genoa while Palermo host Parma and Sampdoria are at Brescia.

Palermo and Sampdoria are level on points with Roma and Inter and well in Champions League qualification reckoning.

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing today
Genoa vs Napoli - 20.45
Palermo vs Parma - 18.00
Udinese vs Fiorentina - 18.00

Tomorrow – 15.00
Bologna vs Milan - 12.30
Brescia vs Sampdoria
Cagliari vs Catania
Juventus vs Lazio - 20.45
Lecce vs Chievo
Roma vs Bari

Leading standings: Milan 33; Lazio 30; Juventus, Napoli 27; Inter, Sampdoria, Palermo, Roma 23; Genoa 21; Chievo, Udinese 20; Fiorentina, Bologna (-1), Catania, Parma 18; Cagliari 17; Brescia, Cesena, Lecce 12; Bari 10.

Serie B

Played yesterday
Padova vs Sassuolo - 1-0

Today – 15.00
Atalanta vs AlbinoLeffe
Crotone vs Cittadella
Empoli vs Portogruaro
Frosinone vs Novara
Modena vs Varese
Pescara vs Vicenza
Piacenza vs Livorno
Reggina vs Grosseto
Siena vs Ascoli

Monday
Triestina vs Torino - 20.45

Leading standings: Novara 40; Siena 34; Atalanta 33; Varese 29; Reggina, Livorno 28; Padova 27; Torino, Vicenza 26; Empoli 25; Pescara 24.