By the time AC Milan and Roma confront each other at the San Siro on Monday evening, leaders Juventus could already be six points clear at the top of Serie A.
Antonio Conte's side host struggling Sassuolo in Turin on Sunday and are expected to pick up a win that would see them further increase their advantage over second-placed Roma.
That would require Rudi Garcia's team to register their sixth away win of the league campaign to keep the Italian champions in sight.
The capital outfit should be confident of that, though, as they recovered from a run of four successive draws to edge past top-three challengers Fiorentina 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome last weekend.
On the other hand, Milan will be head into the encounter on the back of two consecutive draws – 2-2 against Livorno in Serie A and 0-0 with Ajax in the Champions League.
Striker Stephan El Shaarawy has been ruled out for the rest of the month after suffering a foot injury against Ajax, and joins Kevin Constant, Robinho, Marco Amelia, Matias Silvestre and Valter Birsa on the sidelines.
This means that Alessandro Matri will start for the Rossoneri alongside Mario Balotelli in attack, with Kaka playing just behind them.
Meanwhile, Roma will be without midfielder Miralem Pjanic as he was sent off in their last outing, while Marco Borriello is sidelined with injury.
Form guide
Milan: DDWWDD
Roma: WDDDDW
Possible starting lineups
Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Mexes, Zapata, De Sciglio; Montolivo, De Jong, Muntari; Kaka; Balotelli, Matri
Roma: De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Dodo; Bradley, De Rossi, Strootman; Florenzi, Totti, Gervinho
Sports Mole says: 2-2
Subhankar Mondal
