Roma’s Adem Ljajic (right) tries to get the ball off the feet of Genoa’s Andrea Bertolacci.

Roma host Milan today eager to go into the Christmas break on a high and remain in hot pursuit of Serie A leaders Juventus.

Juve beat Cagliari 3-1 in Sardinia on Thursday to ensure they will start 2015 at the top of the table. The Giallorossi can cut the gap with Juve to just one point by claiming their 12th league victory this evening.

Roma, who finished runners-up to Juve last season, are confident they can beat the current champions to the title this time around.

“I firmly believe we can win the scudetto,” Roma coach Rudi Garcia told reporters yesterday.

“We are still small from a European level but we want to start winning in Italy before we undertake bigger aims.

“I have told (Roma captain Francesco) Totti that I want to win something with him and that he cannot end his career without another league title.”

Roma last won the scudetto in the 2001. They are unbeaten at home in Serie A and take on a Milan side that are in seventh place, with just one defeat on the road this season.

Yesterday, Garcia won his appeal against a two-match ban imposed for allegedly clashing with a steward after his side’s win at Genoa last Sunday.

Garcia’s ban was lifted after the steward retracted his claims.

Lazio, Genoa and Sampdoria are all level on 26 points heading into their final games of the year.

The three clubs have an opportunity to leapfrog Napoli in the standings provided they win their respective matches.

Napoli beat bottom-side Parma 2-0 on Thursday to climb to third place, one point clear of Lazio, Genoa and Sampdoria.

Lazio are fourth and travel to the San Siro tomorrow night to face Inter looking to make it three wins in a row.

Sinisa Mihajlovic’s Samp have not lost in their last six games and take on Udinese in Friuli.

Genoa are the only team un-beaten on the road this season and make the trip north to meet Torino.

Fiorentina welcome back Colombian midfielder Juan Guillermo Cuadrado from suspension for their home match against Tuscan neighbours Empoli.

The Viola have clinched 10 points of a possible 12 in their last four league games to climb to eighth in the standings.

Palermo are in mid-table and have won just once on the road this season.

The Sicily club ends the year against Atalanta in Bergamo.

Chievo’s unbeaten run ended in the 2-0 defeat to Inter on Monday.

The Flying Donkeys, who are 17th despite avoiding defeat in their last five matches, will be looking to finish strong with a win at Verona in the derby.

Second-bottom Cesena will spend the break in the relegation zone having won just one of their 15 league games.

The Emilia-Romagna club play at Sassuolo desperate to clinch their first win since August 31.

Fixtures

Serie A

Playing today
Sassuolo vs Cesena - 18.00
Roma vs Milan - 20.45

Tomorrow – 15.00
Atalanta vs Palermo
Fiorentina vs Empoli
Inter vs Lazio 20.45
Sampdoria vs Udinese
Torino vs Genoa
Verona vs Chievo - 12.30

Standings: Juventus 39; Roma 35; Napoli 27; Lazio, Sampdoria, Genoa 26; Milan, Fiorentina 23; Udinese, Palermo 21; Inter 20; Sassuolo 19; Verona 17; Empoli 16; Torino, Atalanta 14; Chievo 13; Cagliari 12; Cesena 8; Parma 6.

Serie B

Played yesterday
Lanciano vs Carpi - 1-1
Avellino vs Bologna - 1-0

Today – 15.00
Bari vs Latina
Catania vs Brescia
Entella vs Livorno
Frosinone vs Cittadella
Modena vs Trapani
Perugia vs Pescara
Pro Vercelli vs Ternana
Varese vs Crotone
Vicenza vs Spezia

Leading standings: Carpi 37; Frosinone 30; Livorno, Spezia, Lanciano, Avellino 29; Bologna 28; Trapani 27; Perugia 25; Pro Vercelli 24.