After both enjoyed winning returns to action in midweek, second-placed AC Milan and a Roma side trailing six points below them in the Serie A standings meet at San Siro on Sunday.
Two heavyweights of Calcio need another victory for their own particular aims, with the champions aiming to further reduce their deficit to Napoli and their visitors from the capital seeking to push on in pursuit of a top-four place.
Match preview
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Again benefiting from the brilliance of top scorer Rafael Leao, Milan's competitive comeback after nearly two months away ended in a 2-1 success down in Salerno, with Sandro Tonali netting the visitors' second goal after only 15 minutes.
Following his opening strike against Salernitana on Wednesday afternoon, Leao has been involved in eight goals from his last 10 league appearances in the month of January (five of his own and three assists) so clearly excels in getting the new year off to a fast start.
Milan's 11th win of their title defence was made all the more significant several hours later, as league leaders Napoli stumbled at San Siro - losing to Inter, who are the only team to have won more home matches than the Rossoneri in Serie A since April.
During that time, Stefano Pioli's side have won 10 of their 11 home fixtures, so can feel confident upon returning to their second-city headquarters this weekend.
Before tackling Roma, in a game to be followed by another home fixture versus Coppa Italia opponents Torino, Milan have won each of their last three league meetings with their counterparts from the capital - and they could now win four in a row for the first time since 1990.
Furthermore, three of the clubs' last four encounters in Milan have ended in maximum points for Sunday's hosts, so making further in-roads into Napoli's five-point advantage will be top of the agenda for Pioli and co at San Siro.
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Indeed, former Lazio boss Pioli is the only manager to win 100% of his Serie A contests with Roma's Jose Mourinho, who again returns to the scene of his heroics as Inter head coach during the Nerazzurri's unprecedented treble triumph of 2010.
While such glory days are now in the dim and distant past, Mourinho's current club at least resumed their campaign with a 1-0 victory on Wednesday, as captain Lorenzo Pellegrini scored the decisive goal from the spot at home to Bologna.
The Giallorossi had claimed just two points from their last three matches before the World Cup break, but they are now back level with arch-rivals Lazio and a win on Sunday evening would take them to within three points of Milan.
A Champions League qualification spot is therefore still a realistic aim for last year's Europa Conference League winners, though the improved form of Juventus and Inter Milan still makes a return to Europe's elite for the first time since 2018 a difficult task.
Also into the Europa League knockout rounds, which commence next month, Roma will require a forward line featuring the faltering Tammy Abraham and World Cup winner Paulo Dybala to fire on all cylinders between now and June.
Before travelling north this weekend, Mourinho's men may have kept a clean sheet only once in their last seven Serie A away fixtures, but five wins on the road so far this term stacks up to one of the division's best records; meaning Milan cannot expect anything like an easy ride.
Team News
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Seemingly resistant to change, Milan's injury list remains lengthy ahead of Roma's visit, with first-choice goalkeeper Mike Maignan joining Ante Rebic, Simon Kjaer, Divock Origi, Rade Krunic, Junior Messias and Alessandro Florenzi in training individually this week.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also absent as he continues his recovery programme in Miami, as Olivier Giroud continues up front and Ciprian Tatarusanu deputises for Maignan in goal.
After his strikes against Fiorentina and Salernitana, Rafael Leao could now find the net in three successive league appearances for the first time in his Calcio career, as Stefano Pioli names a side very similar to that which claimed three points in midweek.
Though Roma remain without Georginio Wijnaldum, who is scheduled to return to action later this month - and fellow midfielder Mady Camara's participation at is doubtful after sustaining an ankle injury in training - Paulo Dybala should be fit to start at San Siro.
The latter came off with cramp in midweek but returned to full training on Thursday. He has been involved in 12 Serie A goals against Milan to date (seven of his own and five assists) - only one, though, came away from home: his first, for Palermo back in November 2014.
Having fallen out spectacularly with Jose Mourinho - who is banned from the bench on Sunday - it seems Rick Karsdorp has played his last game for the club amid Premier League interest, so Zeki Celik should continue on the visitors' right flank. Meanwhile, new signing Ola Solbakken and injury-plagued striker Andrea Belotti are now available to play.
AC Milan possible starting lineup:
Tatarusanu; Calabria, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Tonali, Bennacer; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Giroud
Roma possible starting lineup:
Patricio; Mancini, Smalling, Ibanez; Celik, Cristante, Pellegrini, Zalewski; Zaniolo, Dybala; Abraham
We say: AC Milan 2-1 Roma
Following Napoli's first slip-up, Milan will sense blood - and they now face a Roma side renowned for flunking against their top-six rivals.
In an intriguing clash of styles - the Rossoneri have scored the most open play goals in Serie A this season (28); the Giallorossi boast the best percentage from set-pieces (42%) - it is the home side that should come out on top.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
