Serie A preview: Milan, Napoli go head to head

AC Milan can put the pressure back on second-placed Napoli on Sunday when the two Serie A high-flyers clash at the San Siro.

In a weekend that will see four of the top five clubs in Serie A face-off, third-placed Milan will look to end Napoli’s three-game winning streak and potentially move within one point of Walter Mazzarri’s men.

Napoli have found some form in the past three weeks with wins over Atalanta, Torino and Genoa, following a run of seven matches without victory.

But Milan, who are undefeated in 13 Serie A fixtures, will be looking to increase the pressure on the Neapolitans when they line up against each other on Sunday.

With Napoli sitting in Italy’s second and final automatic UEFA Champions League qualifying berth, Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri know this week is a big opportunity for his team to overhaul their direct rivals.

Midfielder Riccardo Montolivo shapes as the key man for Milan, having scored two of his side’s past three goals and setting up the other.

Serie A-leaders Juventus will look to recover from their disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich on Wednesday when they travel to the Italian capital on Monday to take on Lazio.

Juventus lead Napoli by nine points and could increase that to 12 if they defeat Lazio for the fifth time in eight meetings.

While the capital club defeated Juventus 2-1 in the Coppa Italia in January, the Turin giants have had the upper hand on Lazio in the past four years and head coach Antonio Conte should be confident ahead of the trip to Rome.

With six league matches left after this weekend, Lazio know a loss would effectively end their chances of overtaking Milan in third spot and earning a berth in the Champions League’s qualifying rounds next season.

AC Milan sit on 58 points, with fourth-placed Fiorentina (52 points), Lazio (51) and Inter Milan (48) still holding hopes of rising to third before the end of the season.

Fiorentina will travel to Atalanta on Saturday, while Cagliari host Inter on Sunday.

Pescara take on Siena in a relegation six-pointer, while Genoa face Sampdoria in the Derby della Lanterna.

In other matches, Bologna will travel to Sicily to take on Palermo, Chievo will host Catania and Torino will play Roma, while Parma and Udinese clash at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.