Milan travel to leaders Juventus tomorrow evening knowing that defeat would seriously dent their hopes of securing second place in Serie A and automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side have suffered a blip in form and have slipped four points behind Napoli, who sit second, with six matches remaining.
With Mario Balotelli serving a ban for abusing a match official in the defeat by Fiorentina, and co-striker Stephan El Shaarawy unhappy after being dropped for last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Napoli, Milan’s attack has lost its cutting edge.
Allegri is set to start with veteran striker Giampaolo Pazzini, but is yet to decide on the other two players in his preferred system of an attacking trio.
El Shaarawy believes he is match fit, despite reports in the Italian press of a knee injury and general tiredness.
Asked by reporters how he was feeling, the 20-year-old Italy international replied: “Ask Allegri.”
El Shaarawy is not the only Milan player to have had a moan to the press. Kevin Prince Boateng has been unhappy about being asked to start in a deeper role, but an ankle injury picked up against Napoli may well keep the Ghanaian out of action anyway.
Mathieu Flamini, Milan’s scorer last weekend, will definitely be missing after being red-carded in the same game.
The match against Juve completes a tough string of fixtures for third-placed Milan, but the club’s run-in towards the end of the season looks comparatively easy.
Napoli should be in confident mood ahead of their home game against Cagliari, despite the Sardinians’ recent upswing in form, including a 2-0 defeat of Inter.
Milan will also now have to start looking over their shoulder for a revitalised Fiorentina, four points behind in fourth place and playing at home this weekend against struggling Torino.
Viola coach Vincenzo Montella is all set to sign a new contract, having achieved impressive results this campaign with a limited squad and caught the eye of neutrals with his entertaining style of attacking play.
Montella had been mentioned as a possible replacement for under-fire Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni.
The Nerazzurri have been in miserable form since the turn of the year and will have to elbow past both Lazio and Roma if they are to have any hope of European competition next season.
A Coppa Italia semi-final defeat by Roma on Wednesday did little to lift injury-hit Inter’s spirits.
Juventus, in fine fettle after seeing off Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Monday, are just six points away from claiming their 29th Italian title.
If they beat Milan, they face the prospect of winning the championship away to cross-city rivals Torino the following weekend.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing Today
Genoa vs Atalanta 18.00
Udinese vs Lazio 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Bologna vs Sampdoria
Catania vs Palermo
Fiorentina vs Torino
Juventus vs Milan 20.45
Inter vs Parma 12.30
Napoli vs Cagliari
Roma vs Pescara
Siena vs Chievo
Standings: Juventus 74; Napoli 63; Milan 59; Fiorentina 55; Roma, Lazio 51; Inter 50; Udinese 48; Catania 47; Cagliari 42; Parma 39; Bologna 38; Sampdoria (-1), Atalanta (-2) 37; Torino (-1), Chievo 36; Siena (-6) 30; Palermo, Genoa 28; Pescara 21.
Serie B
Playing Today – 15.00
Cesena vs Lanciano
Cittadella vs Juve Stabia
Crotone vs Reggina
Grosseto vs Livorno
Novara vs Modena
Sassuolo vs Bari
Spezia vs Empoli
Ternana vs Varese
Vicenza vs Pro Vercelli
Monday
Ascoli vs Padova 19.00
Verona vs Brescia 21.00
Standings: Sassuolo 77; Livorno 70, Verona 69; Empoli 63; Novara 59; Brescia 53; Varese 52; Modena, Juve Stabia 48; Ternana, Padova 47; Crotone 46; Spezia, Cesena 45, Bari, Cittadella 44; Lanciano 43; Reggina 41; Ascoli 40; Vicenza 35; Pro Vercelli 31; Grosseto 23.