Milan hoping to bounce back after Euro exit

Milan will aim to put Champions League heartbreak firmly behind them this weekend when they focus on maintaining a five-point lead atop Italy’s Serie A against lowly Bari at the San Siro.

Milan gave a much improved performance from their first leg efforts as they dominated possession, albeit far from Tottenham’s goal, at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Even so, they failed to breach Spurs’ stubborn rearguard as they paid for their 1-0 first leg defeat three weeks earlier.

It means Milan have only the league and cup to concentrate on now as they have failed to reach the Champions League last eight for the fourth year in a row since triumphing in 2007 – in 2009 they did not even qualify for the competition.

Milan have Inter snapping behind their heels and the Rosso-neri players recognise they must quickly overcome their European disappointment.

“We went there (to Spurs) to qualify but it didn’t happen. We’re all a bit sad, we gave a lot but we couldn’t find a goal,” said French midfielder Mathieu Flamini.

“Now we have to look forward and go and win the title. The Champions League was one of our objectives but it went badly. We have another big aim and that’s to win the title, our number one priority.”

Milan are in great shape in that respect having beaten rivals Napoli two weeks ago, all but knocking them out of contention for the league title before earning a hard-fought 1-0 success at fellow giants Juventus last week.

That loss hit Juve’s Champions League hopes hard, leaving them in seventh but 10 points off fourth-placed Lazio with just 10 games to play.

Juve have lost their last three games and seven of the last 11, virtually ruling them out of contention for Champions League football next season. They face a trip to Cesena tonight with their hosts looking to keep their heads above water as they sit only goal difference above the drop zone.

In Juve’s absence, the fight for a top-four spot will be played out at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico as Roma host Lazio in the capital derby.

Having recovered a little of late, in the league at least, following four straight defeats Roma managed three games on the trot without loss before their Champions League capitulation at Shakhtar Donetsk.

That 3-0 reverse saw Roma eliminated 6-2 on aggregate and Lazio are wary that they will be up against a wounded lion as they try to defend their five-point lead over their city rivals. History is also on Roma’s side, however, having won the last four derbies.

In other games, Napoli travel to Parma while Udinese can move into a Champions League qualification position if Lazio slip up and they win away to Cagliari.

Fixtures - Serie A

Played Yesterday
Brescia vs Inter 1-1

Today
Cesena vs Juventus (1-3) - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Cagliari vs Udinese (1-1)
Catania vs Sampdoria (0-0)
Chievo vs Fiorentina (0-1)
Genoa vs Palermo (0-1)
Lecce vs Bologna (0-2)
Milan vs Bari (3-2) - 12.30
Parma vs Napoli (0-2) - 20.45
Roma vs Lazio (2-0)

Standings: Milan 61; Inter 57; Napoli 53; Lazio 51; Udinese 50; Roma 46; Juventus 41; Palermo 40; Cagliari 39; Fiorentina 37; Bologna 36; Genoa 35; Chievo 32; Sampdoria 31; Parma, Catania 29; Cesena, Lecce 28; Brescia 26; Bari 16.

Serie B

Playing Today – 15.00
AlbinoLeffe vs Vicenza (0-1)
Ascoli vs Atalanta (1-2)
Grosseto vs Pescara (2-4)
Modena vs Frosinone (1-1)
Novara vs Sassuolo (1-0)
Piacenza vs Crotone (1-0)
Reggina vs Triestina (4-0)
Siena vs Empoli (0-3)
Torino vs Livorno (1-2)
Varese vs Portogruaro (1-1) - 18.00

Monday
Cittadella vs Padova (1-2) - 20.45

Leading standings: Atalanta 59; Siena 56; Novara 54; Varese 47; Reggina 46; Pescara 42; Vicenza, Torino 41.