AC Milan seek Bologna boost

ROME. – Italian Serie A leaders AC Milan look for a boost today at 13th-placed Bologna after a dramatic Italian Cup exit to city rivals Inter days after a league defeat to Atalanta. Stefano Pioli’s side are just two points ahead of second-placed Inter who host 11th-placed Benevento.

Inter bounced back from last weekend’s goalless draw at Udinese to advance to the Italian Cup semi-finals where they meet Juventus.

The Milan teams’ Cup clash was overshadowed by insults traded between their star strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku with the Swede later sent off. Tensions are high as both Milan teams attempt to deny Juventus a 10th consecutive league title.

“We’ve lost one of our objectives,” said Pioli after the Cup defeat.

“But we have two others which are probably even more important to achieve,” he added of Serie A and the Europa League.

Bologna have won just one of their last 10 league games, and have not beaten Milan since January 2016.

Milan are hopeful of recalling midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu who has been out with coronavirus along with injured Ismael Bennacer and Mario Mandzukic who took a knock on his debut against Atalanta.

Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus have been gaining ground and are now fourth, seven points off top spot with a game in hand.

The Turin giants play midtable Sampdoria, a side Pirlo got his coaching career off to a winning start against 3-0 back in September. Inter missed the chance to move level on points with Milan after a goalless draw in Udine with Antonio Conte sitting out a two-match touchline ban for rowing with the referee.

Third-placed Roma, six points off top spot, host Hellas Verona tomorrow in a clash between European rivals.

Juventus are just a point behind Roma, after beating SPAL in the Italian Cup, a game which Cristiano Ronaldo did not play. – AFP.

The Portuguese striker allegedly broke Covid-19 restrictions with a trip to an Italian mountain resort for his girlfriend’s birthday.

Napoli, in sixth, play lowly Parma tomorrow after dropping points in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Hellas Verona.

Atalanta and Lazio lock horns again in Bergamo, four days after the northerns eliminated the Romans 3-2 from the Italian Cup.

Sassuolo look to end their slump after the Christmas break to pull closer to the European places against relegation candidates Cagliari.

Italian Serie A Fixtures

Today: Bologna v Milan (4pm); Sampdoria v Juventus (7pm); Internazionale v Benevento (9:45pm).

Tomorrow: Spezia v Udinese (1:30pm); Atalanta v Lazio (4pm); Cagliari v Sassuolo (4pm); Crotone v Genoa (4pm); Napoli v Parma (7pm); Roma v Hellas Verona (9:45pm).