Milan (AFP) – It’s a case of prime meets backside in Serie A on Saturday as leaders AC Milan go to tailenders Salernitana who’ve gambled on retaining their elite standing by making wholesale adjustments because the flip of the yr.
Milan could also be prime however in what guarantees to be an exciting run in simply two factors separates the highest three.
Seven-time European champions AC Milan took benefit of Inter Milan drawing at fellow title rivals Napoli to maneuver prime for the primary time in two months final weekend and have had a full week to organize for his or her match.
Inter — who’re a degree off Milan — face Sassuolo off the again of Wednesday’s demoralising 2-0 dwelling defeat to Liverpool, whereas Napoli, an extra level adrift, are at Barcelona within the Europa League on Thursday earlier than enjoying Cagliari on Monday.
Salernitana’s essential fear by way of countering an attacking menace will come within the form of Rafael Leao, the 22-year-old Portuguese ahead is having fun with a breakthrough marketing campaign and can make his a centesimal Milan look.
He’s set to be rewarded with a contract extension till 2026 and a wage bumped as much as 4 million euros ($4.5 million) a season.
Targets in every of his final two video games, together with the one one in opposition to Sampdoria which despatched Milan prime, have taken his Serie A tally to seven, with 4 assists.
On Tuesday Salernitana introduced in new coach Davide Nicola as they attempt to extricate themselves from the relegation zone.
It was the newest episode of what has been an eventful first Serie A season in over 20 years for the southern membership, who had already modified arms to make sure they weren’t kicked out of the league.
Spurred on by new proprietor Danilo Iervolino Salernitana introduced in 11 gamers within the January switch window after which received encouraging attracts in consecutive matches with Spezia and Genoa.
They have been additional boosted by the Italian Soccer Federation overturning Serie A’s determination to dock them a degree and hand them a 3-0 defeat for not exhibiting up for December’s match at Udinese following a spike in Covid-19 instances.
That call means Salernitana have two video games in hand over nearly all of the groups preventing in opposition to the drop — though they’ve just one in hand on Venezia who’re eight factors higher off and sit simply above the underside three.
“The one factor I’m focussed on is the following three months,” Nicola advised reporters on Wednesday.
“I’m unsure how far we are able to go this season however we have to imagine that we are able to attain our goal (survival).”
Juventus kick off the weekend’s matches with the Turin derby on Friday evening as they attempt to keep within the Champions League spots.
Massimiliano Allegri’s aspect stayed fourth because of Danilo’s last-gasp leveller at Atalanta on Sunday, and sit two factors away from final weekend’s opponents forward of the go to of Torino.
Atalanta have been desperately unfortunate to not come away with the win in opposition to Juve, as Hans Hateboer hit the bar with the hosts main from Ruslan Malinovskyi’s rocket of a aim.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s staff are underneath stress to beat Fiorentina to remain in contact with Juve and provides themselves the chance to get again into the highest 4 by successful their sport in hand.
Participant to observe: Olivier Giroud
France ahead Giroud is but to attain away from the San Siro since signing for Milan however his doubles within the derby with Inter and in opposition to Lazio within the cup confirmed he was extra than simply Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s understudy.
He was very unfortunate to not rating not less than another in final weekend’s win over Sampdoria and with Ibrahimovic nonetheless out with an Achilles tendon downside Giroud has an incredible likelihood to interrupt his duck exterior the Lombard capital.
Key stats
2 – Simply two factors separate the highest three in Serie A.
11 — Salernitana fully modified their first-choice line-up with a bunch of latest signings.
Fixtures (instances GMT)
Friday
Juventus v Torino (1945)
Saturday
Sampdoria v Empoli (1400), Roma v Verona (1700), Salernitana v Milan (1945)
Sunday
Fiorentina v Atalanta (1130), Venezia v Genoa (1400), Inter Milan v Sassuolo (1700), Udinese v Lazio (1945)
Monday
Cagliari v Napoli (1800), Bologna v Spezia (2000)
