Serie A Preview: Milan - Roma
Posted Saturday, December 18, 2010 by Goal.com
Claudio Ranieri's side need to win to revitalise their Scudetto challenge and punctuate the Rossoneri's scintillating run...
Milan celebrating
Ending On A High
Milan have had a brilliant second half of 2010 as they have been sensational in the first-half of the 2010-11 season. The Rossoneri are flying high in Serie A and are also through to the second round of the Champions League where they will confront Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
Currently perched on pole position with 36 points from 16 matches, Massimiliano Allegri's side are six points ahead of their nearest rivals in the Scudetto race and are bookmakers' favourites to win the championship.
With reigning Italian champions Inter struggling and already 13 points off the pace (albeit with a game of hand), only Juventus are credible title-challengers, meaning that the Rossoneri do have a very good chance of conquering Italy for the first time since 2004.
However, the Diavolo will aspire to wrap up the year with a victory over Roma. The Lupi have almost relinquished championship hopes but they do have the ability to hurt Milan. Conceding a defeat just before the Christmas break could be detrimental to Allegri's team's psyche and would also break their seven-game unbeaten run in the league as well.
Scudetto Chimera
With 26 points from 16 matches, Roma have virtually given up their slim hopes of a Scudetto challenge. On Saturday evening the Lupi will almost certainly lose sight of Milan if they lose at San Siro.
However, Roma will head to Milan with confidence after defeating Bari 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico and having drawn Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in the second round of the Champions League, Claudio Ranieri's men will be confident of further progress in Europe.
To win in Milan, though, the Giallorossi will have to put in extra effort as they have won just once away from Rome all season in the league. Roma's defence too has looked susceptible as they have conceded 15 goals in eight away matches.
TEAM NEWS
Milan
Pato, Inzaghi, Oduamadi, Flamini, Thiago Silva and Zambrotta are injured and will miss the visit of Roma.
Roma
Vucinic and Lobont are injured and will miss the trip to Milan.
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