Two twisting roads to recovery converge at San Siro tomorrow night as Milan and Inter take separate shots at redemption.
Milan are steadily following a winding path towards Europa League qualification – the minimum requirement this season – and should soon book their appearance in the Coppa Italia final.
A 1-0 victory over modest third-tier Alessandria this week was not convincing but left the minnows vulnerable to a likely humbling back in Milan.
Their opponents in May’s decider would almost certainly be Juventus, who effectively knocked Inter out of the competition by winning the first leg of their semi-final 3-0 on Wednesday.
That result added insult to injury for an Inter side who have unceremoniously slipped from first place to fourth over recent weeks, with free-scoring Napoli now six points ahead of them at the top of the tree.
Milan could at least take fifth spot from Roma with victory this weekend while Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic is hoping his own team-mates can kick on and remove Fiorentina from third place.
“We have to find the determination to get back to where we were before,” he told reporters.
“The derby may be a game like no other, but it is still worth three points.
“So far the title race has been finely balanced, and nothing is lost for us yet. There are still plenty of games to go and some of those are against our direct rivals.”
Happily ensconced in second are Juventus – the reigning champions have stormed into scudetto contention by winning 11 games in a row and will hope to make Chievo their 12th victim.
While the Bianconeri are in Verona, Maurizio Sarri pits his front-running Napoli team against his former employers Empoli at the Stadio San Paolo, tomorrow.
Azzurri defender Raul Albiol told sscnapoli.it: “Under Sarri we have become really strong.
“We have to continue doing what we’re doing and always try to aim high. Our dream is making the Neapolitan people happy.”
Fiorentina can resist any Inter advances on their Champions League berth by beating Genoa and fifth-placed Roma will look to keep Milan at an arm’s length with a positive result against Frosinone.
Luciano Spalletti may still be looking for a first victory since returning to the Roma dugout this month but he should spare a thought for basement boys Verona.
The Gialloblu, who are 13 points from safety, have failed to win any of their 21 engagements this term and the grind continues at Torino.
Surprise package Sassuolo visit Atalanta this evening while relegation-threatened Carpi bid to go five games unbeaten when they host Palermo at the Stadio Alberto Braglia.
Elsewhere, Udinese entertain Lazio and Roberto Donadoni’s resurgent Bologna welcome Sampdoria.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing Today
Carpi vs Palermo 15.00
Atalanta vs Sassuolo 18.00
Roma vs Frosinone20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Bologna vs Sampdoria
Chievo vs Juventus 12.30
Genoa vs Fiorentina
Milan vs Inter 20.45
Napoli vs Empoli
Torino vs Verona
Udinese vs Lazio
Standings: Napoli 47; Juventus 45; Fiorentina, Inter 41; Roma 35; Milan 33; Sassuolo, Empoli 32; Lazio 31; Chievo 27; Torino, Bologna, Atalanta 26; Palermo, Udinese 24; Genoa, Sampdoria 23; Carpi 18; Frosinone 16; Verona 10.
Serie B
Played Yesterday
Avellino vs Cagliari 1-2
Today – 15.00
Brescia vs Livorno
Cesena vs Ascoli
Como vs Vicenza
Crotone vs Perugia
Latina vs Pro Vercelli
Pescara vs Bari
Ternana vs Modena
Lanciano vs Trapani
Tomorrow
Entella vs Novara17.30
Monday
Spezia vs Salernitana20.30
Leading standings: Cagliari 52; Crotone 51; Pescara 43; Bari 39; Novara, Brescia 38; Avellino 35; Cesena 34.