In what is sure to be an intensely-contested affair, AC Milan and Napoli will try and lot let Inter Milan distance themselves at the Serie A summit. Ever since overtaking the pair at the top, Inter have being errorless and the pressure is now on the Rossoneri and the Partenopei who face each other at San Siro tonight.Despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s late heroics last weekend, Milan remain adrift of their city rivals. Meanwhile, amid an ongoing injury crisis, their southern counterparts have picked up just one point from their last three league matches. Opposed to Nerazzurri, AC Milan and Napoli are not looking confident at all. Against Udineze, Ibrahimovic struck to salvage a point for the Rossoneri, who looked set to fall to another disappointing defeat.Juve beat fog and gritty BolognaStefano Pioli’s men were stopped in their tracks thanks to losses against Fiorentina and Sassuolo in recent weeks, not to mention their Champions League exit after their away loss to Liverpool.Even so, Milan remain well placed as the season’s halfway point approaches. But Sunday night brings a direct match-up of two title contenders eager to reclaim the top spot.Milan have not beaten their fellow title rivals from Naples at San Siro since 2014, including a 1-0 loss there last March. Rossoneri have won only one of their last 13 encounters with Napoli in the top flight, losing seven times in the process.Even so, Luciano Spalletti’s side are not in a good mood. They have not only seen their long-held unbeaten start to the campaign torn up, but also find themselves back in the pack at the top end of the Serie A standings. They now sit fourth, almost within the blink of an eye.Perfect timing! English legionnaires land crucial blows as Giallorossi knock Atalanta outNapoli has been beset by a series of injuries to integral players after a stunning start to life at Stadio Maradona. Last weekend, Partenopei were beaten by Empoli 1-0 even though they fired 30 shots in total on their plucky visitors’ goal.Napoli will continue fighting their European battles, thanks to their vital Europa League victory over Leicester City. Which means only Milan have all their focus on the domestic title.Injuries are causing troubles for both Milan and Napoli. As far as the Rossoneri go, the tireless Ibra could be called upon once more by Pioli as his other striking options are mostly unavailable.Ante Rebic, Rafael Leao and Pietro Pellegri are currently sidelined while Olivier Giroud recently returned to training and should be one of the substitutes.Fikayo Tomori continues to partner Alessio Romagnoli at the heart of the back four while Simon Kjaer will be missing for several months following reconstructive ACL surgery.Five goals for a four-points-lead at the top! Inter show who’s boss to the relegation-headed SalernitanaMeanwhile at Napoli – injury problems see Lorenzo Insigne, Fabian Ruiz and Kalidou Koulibaly undergoing individual training programmes and the three are unlikely to be in competition for the match. For a while now, their top scorer Victor Osimhen out of action until 2022 due to a cheekbone injury (Dries Mertens deputises for him up front). Both Mario Rui and Stanislav Lobotka did full training sessions and should be available to play.Piotr Zielinski passed fit after suffering from respiratory problems while Kostas Manolas agreed a return to Greece with Olympiakos.Without Koulibaly and Manolas, Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus should operate in central defence for the visitors.SERIE A – ROUND 18FridayLazio – Genoa 3-1 (1-0)/Pedro 36, Accerbi 7, Zaccagni 81/Salernitana – Inter 0-5 (0-2)/Perisic 11, Dumfries 33, Sanchez 52, Martinez 78, Gagliardini 87/Saturday Atalanta – Roma 1-4 (1-2)/Muriel 45+1 – Abraham 1, 82, Zaniolo 27, Smalling 72/Bologna – Juventus 0-2 (0-1)/Morata 6, Cuadrado 69/Cagliari – Udinese 0-4 (0-2)/Makengo 4, Deulofeu 45, 69, Molina 50/Sunday Fiorentina – Sassuolo 2-2 IN PROGRESS17:00 Spezia – Empoli20:00 Sampdoria – Venezia20:00 Torino – Hellas Verona22:45 Milan – Napoli***odds are subject to change
