AC Milan host Juventus in a top-of-
the-table clash on Saturday that
could add impetus to their bid to
erase two nightmare seasons – if
the Rossoneri can plug the holes at
the back.
Under new coach Filippo Inzaghi, Milan have
enjoyed a flying start to the season following two
horrendous campaigns under Massimiliano Allegri
and, latterly, Clarence Seedorf.
An opening day win over Lazio (3-1) was followed
by a 5-4 win at Parma last weekend.
Although the latter victory put Milan's attacking
talents on display, it also exposed their frailties at
the back.
Juventus, unbeaten at home all of last season on
their way to a third consecutive title, have yet to
concede a goal in their two wins over Chievo and
Udinese and have scored three times.
Milan midfielder Jeremy Menez, however, said he
expects plenty of fireworks at the San Siro on
Saturday.
"It will be a big show. Plenty of goals and emotion,
almost like it was at Parma," the Frenchman told
Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Juve may still be ahead of us, but on Saturday
we'll be playing on level terms and we could
achieve something special.
"There's a lot riding on this game... we just have to
concentrate on ourselves and stick to our
gameplan."
Milan host Juve only four days after the
Bianconeri's dominant 2-0 win over Malmo in their
opening Champions League Group A match.
But a visit to what should be a packed-out San Siro
will be a different prospect, especially as the home
support could offer a hostile reception to former
coach Allegri.
Despite failing to repeat his exploit of leading Milan
to the 2011 league title in his three subsequent
seasons with the club, Allegri was appointed to
succeed Antonio Conte when the former Juve
handler quit to become Italy coach.
Allegri will still be without midfielder Andrea Pirlo
and defender Andrea Barzagli, both of whom are
recovering from injury, but could welcome Chilean
midfielder Arturo Vidal back to the squad as he
continues to battle a persistent knee problem.
Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra
admitted Milan may have home advantage but said
he, for one, will not shy away from the challenge.
"It's a difficult game, but I can't wait to play," Evra
told www.juventus.com.
"This was exactly the type of match I wanted to be
involved in when I signed for Juventus. They have
home advantage but it's down to us to show that
we're the champions and want to win."
A draw would help propel free-scoring Roma, who
sit third but are also on six points after two games,
to the top of the table if Rudi Garcia's men account
for Cagliari at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
Roma, last season's runners-up, were in fine form
on their way to a 5-1 rout of CSKA Moscow on
Wednesday that left them top of Champions League
Group E.
However their win came at a price. Defender
Davide Astori could be sidelined for several weeks
after being diagnosed with knee ligament damage
while Argentinian striker Juan Iturbe remains
doubtful with a muscle injury.
Promoted Palermo, meanwhile, will be hoping home
advantage comes to the fore on Sunday when Inter
visit Sicily.
Argentinian Mauro Icardi scored a hat-trick as Inter
put seven unanswered goals past Sassuolo for the
second consecutive season last week to claim their
first win of the season.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, are set to welcome German
striker Mario Gomez back as they head to high-
flying Atalanta looking for their first win.
Napoli, stunned 1-0 by Chievo last week, face a
tough trip to Udinese.
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