AC Milan look to extend their advantage as Inter try to keep up

(Football news) AC Milan will look to extend their advantage at the top of the table when they take on Cagliari this weekend. The Rossenari are seeking to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games across all competitions and can take a massive six point lead over their title challengers. Stefano Pioli's side could be knocked off the top of the table on goal difference if Napoli beat Udinese at home in the earlier kickoff. Regardless of the results, Milan will be confident of success against Cagliari, who they are unbeaten against in each of their last nine meetings, including a comfortable 4-1 victory earlier this season. The Rossoneri have won only three of their last seven games against the bottom half teams of the table, so they cannot take this fixture lightly. For AC Milan, Theo Hernandez will return from his one-match suspension and is set to replace Alessandro Florenzi at left-back as Tiemoue Bakayoko is Milan's only injury concern, the rest of the squad looks fit.

Inter take on Fiorentina in a crucial encounter in order to stay in the title race. Trailing the Serie A leaders Milan by four points, though still with a game in hand, the defending champions are experiencing their worst form for many months and will now meet an unpredictable side in Fiorentina. The champions have accrued 32 points from 14 home games in Serie A this season, which is more than any other side, and also have a proud record against the Viola over the past two decades. Since 2001, Inter have won 16 of their 19 home games against Fiorentina in Serie A and Inzaghi will be desperate for his team to make that 17 from 20 as they continue their defence of the title. For Inter, Stefan de Vrij has already been ruled out until after the international break and midfield orchestrator Marcelo Brozovic will also be out for this crucial fixture.

Napoli take on Udinese in a match which could see them go top of the table. Victor Osimhen once again delivered the goods last week as his double strike at Verona helped them get back to winning ways. Napoli have now lost four of their last seven home games in Serie A suffering as many losses during that spell as in their previous 35 matches at Stadio Maradona. That trend must surely be brought to a halt if they are to lift some silverware in the future. Defending champions Inter are breathing heavily on their shoulder, so Napoli's hopes of a first Scudetto in more than three decades rely on getting maximum points from games such as this weekend's. For Napoli, full-back Kevin Malcuit, reserve striker Andrea Petagna and back-up goalkeeper Alex Meret are unavailable to face Udinese.

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