Milan Desperate To Cling On As Inter Race Towards Serie A Title
By AFP
AC Milan travels to relegation-threatened Parma desperate to cling onto second place in Serie A this weekend and stay on course for the Champions League as city rivals Inter can tighten their grip on top spot against lowly Cagliari.
Seven-time European champions Milan have taken four points from their last three games to drop 11 points behind Inter who are closing in on a first Serie A title in over a decade.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Milan had been leading at the winter break as they target a first ‘Scudetto’ since 2011, but have faltered since January.
Champions Juventus are just one point behind Milan in third before hosting 13th-placed Genoa with Atalanta a further point adrift ahead of their trip to Fiorentina, who will be without suspended midfielder Franck Ribery.
Despite their poor home form, Milan have lost just once on the road and take on 19th-placed Parma who have won just three games this campaign.
“We’re heading into the decisive part of the season,” said Milan coach Stefano Pioli as they seek a return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2013-2014 season.
“But it’s a bit premature to be doing these (Champions League) calculations, especially as we still have a lot of games against direct rivals still to play.”
Antonio Conte’s Inter are riding high with 10 consecutive wins and take on Cagliari, who are in the relegation zone, and on a three-game losing run.
