(Reuters) – After a decade of underperforming in Serie A, AC Milan look primed to lastly mount a critical title tilt this season however these aspirations for glory will face a stern check towards Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma on Sunday.
The years that adopted the Italian giants’ final Scudetto in 2011 haven’t been sort. Milan completed between fifth and tenth within the standings every season between 2013-2014 and 2019-2020, earlier than impressing underneath Stefano Pioli final time period to take second place.
This season, Pioli’s crew have been close to good in Serie A, successful 9 and drawing one among their opening 10 video games to sit down second within the standings, stage on factors with leaders Napoli. It represents Milan’s finest begin to an Italian top-flight marketing campaign in 67 years.
A resurgent Roma, who ended Napoli’s successful begin to the season final weekend earlier than coming from behind to earn a 2-1 win at Cagliari on Wednesday, will probably be out to dent Pioli’s title hopes in Rome.
“Roma have crew with many attacking choices,” Pioli instructed reporters after Tuesday’s win over Torino.
“It is going to be one other difficult and troublesome match, particularly after enjoying so many matches lately. We are able to nonetheless play higher than we’re doing.”
Trailing Milan and Napoli by 13 factors are seventh-placed Juventus, who appeared to have turned the nook following their disappointing begin to the season as they went into Wednesday’s house conflict with Sassuolo unbeaten in 9 video games in all competitions.
However after a shock 2-1 loss to Sassuolo, because of Maxime Lopez’s stoppage-time winner, Juve will probably be hoping they don’t come unstuck once more after they face a tough journey to Hellas Verona on Saturday.
“We should replicate on how we deal with video games, we will not concede that (Lopez’s) aim on a counter assault,” coach Massimiliano Allegro instructed DAZN after the Sassuolo loss.
“We had the momentum on our aspect after our good run. Juventus by no means concede objectives like right this moment, it should not occur once more.”
Napoli’s spectacular begin to hold tempo with Milan rumbled on with their 3-0 win over Bologna on Thursday. The league leaders, on aim distinction, will look to make it 10 wins from 11 Serie A matches at Salernitana on Sunday.
Champions Inter Milan are seven factors behind the main duo, and will probably be trying to put the stress on their title rivals in Sunday’s early kickoff towards Udinese.
(Reporting by Peter Corridor, modifying by Pritha Sarkar)
