adminMILAN. — AC Milan could be without striker Mario Balotelli for the San Siro clash against Juventus tomorrow when the Rossoneri will look to capitalise on the Italian soccer champions’ midweek endeavours in the Europa League.Juventus are unbeaten in their last 17 league games, a streak in which Antonio Conte’s men have won 15 times and settled for draws only twice on their way to building a nine-point lead on second-placed Roma.
Roma, who have a game in hand, host Inter in Serie A’s only game today.
However Conte has regularly expressed fears that his side’s ambitions in Europe could affect their bid for a third consecutive scudetto.
Juve qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday with a 4-0 aggregate victory over Trabzonspor, when Arturo Vidal and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo scored first-half goals to secure a 2-0 second-leg win.
Fernando Llorente (10) and Carlos Tevez (14), who have 24 league goals between them, were both rested meaning they should be relatively fresh for the visit to Milan.
Daniele Bonera, who returns to Milan’s squad along with fellow defender Mattia De Sciglio, has acknowledged the pair’s threat but said the Rossoneri mean to continue their resurgence from a disastrous start to the season.
“We know we have a long road ahead of us but we’re not afraid of Juventus,” Bonera told the Milan Channel.
“Tevez and Llorente are a good combo, the numbers speak for themselves. But we are starting to find a balance and we want to continue our recent run of good results.”
Fixtures
Today: Roma v Inter (9:45pm)
Tomorrow: Cagliari v Udinese (1:30pm), Atalanta v Chievo, Genoa v Catania, Verona v Bologna, Sassuolo v Parma, Torino v Sampdoria (all 4pm), Livorno v Napoli (7:30pm), Fiorentina v Lazio, Milan v Juventus (9:45pm).
Online Reporter