Juventus host Atalanta in a bid to reinforce their lead in Serie A tomorrow, although one eye will have been firmly fixed on Inter’s visit to Lazio a day earlier.
Juventus have opened up a four-point lead on Inter, who leapfrogged Napoli last week, and welcome their visitors from Bergamo a few days after sealing a quarter-final spot against Milan in the Italian Cup.
The Turin giants’ 1-0 win over Cup rivals Cagliari left two of their players on the sidelines.
Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner suffered a strain to a left thigh tendon that could keep him out for a few months while Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal suffered bruising on his knee but should soon be on the mend.
However, Juve coach Antonio Conte, back on the touchline after serving a four-month ban, said the setbacks will not affect their ambitions this season.
“I’m pleased we went through because we want to be challenging on all fronts,” said Conte, who has been left a potential dilemma with Bendtner’s injury.
The Dane was signed on loan from Arsenal till the end of the season but has failed to score in the little time he has played for the Old Lady.
“I was especially sorry for Bendtner, I would have liked to see him have a longer run-out,” added Conte.
With statistics largely against them – Atalanta have failed to beat Juve in their past 15 games in Turin – the odds are stacked against the Bergamo side, who suffered a 3-0 rout to Rome in the Italian Cup on Tuesday.
A win for Juve would likely bring Inter back down from their cloud, especially if they fail to overcome the Biancocelesti tonight in Rome.
Lazio, who sit fourth on 30 points – eight adrift of Juve – are unbeaten at home since a shock 1-0 reverse to Genoa at the end of October and can get in among the top three places with a win.
While Inter have won three home games on the trot, the Nerazzurri have failed to win away in all competitions since a 3-1 Europa League defeat of Partizan Belgrade at the start of November.
Defender Juan Jesus made his Inter debut against Lazio last year and said: “The Lazio match will be a tough one.
“We claimed a huge win against Napoli (last week) and now we’re closer to Juventus.”
Inter coach Andrea Strama-ccioni has no major injury worries although observers will be keen to see if he deploys forward Antonio Cassano.
Reports in midweek claimed that because of performance-related clauses in his contract, Cassano will pick up a bonus of €200,000 should he score or assist a total of 20 goals for the team.
Gazzetta dello Sport said Cassano will also be given the same amount if he makes 15 league appearances and he has appeared for Inter in 14 games so far.
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, meanwhile, will be looking to put all sentiment to the side when the Rossoneri host Pescara, with whom he played profession-ally, at the San Siro.
On their long-awaited return to the Italian top flight Pescara have spent much of the campaign trying to climb away from the relegation zone.
And it won’t get any easier on what is their first match against Milan since the 1992-93 season, when Milan won 4-0.
After a disastrous start to the campaign Milan have enjoyed a resurgence of late to move up to seventh, and booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup with a 3-0 rout of Reggina on Thursday.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing Today
Udinese Vs Palermo 18.00
Lazio Vs Inter 20.45
Tomorrow – 15.00
Fiorentina Vs Siena 12.30
Catania Vs Sampdoria
Chievo Vs Roma
Genoa Vs Torino
Juventus Vs Atalanta
Milan Vs Pescara
Napoli Vs Bologna 20.45
Parma Vs Cagliari
Standings: Juventus 38; Inter 34; Napoli 33; Lazio 30; Roma, Fiorentina 29; Milan 24; Udinese, Catania 22; Atalanta (-2) 21; Parma 20; Chievo 18; Sampdoria (-1) 17; Cagliari 16; Bologna, Torino (-1) 15; Palermo, Pescara 14; Genoa 12; Siena (-6) 11.
Serie B
Played Yesterday
Livorno Vs Ternana 2-1
Today – 15.00
Bari Vs Novara
Empoli Vs Vicenza
Juve Stabia Vs Cesena
Modena Vs Crotone
Padova Vs Sassuolo
Pro Vercelli Vs Verona
Varese Vs Grosseto
Lanciano Vs Spezia
Playing On Monday
Reggina Vs Cittadella 19.00
Ascoli Vs Brescia 21.00
Standings: Sassuolo, Livorno 42; Verona 35; Varese (-1) 29; Brescia 27; Padova (-2) 26; Modena (-2), Juve Stabia, Cittadella, Empoli (-1) 25; Spezia 24; Ternana 21; Bari (-7), Crotone (-2) 19; Vicenza, Ascoli (-1) 18; Cesena , Reggina (-3) 16; Lanciano 15; Pro Vercelli 14; Novara (-4) 13; Grosseto (-6) 11.