AC Milan Face Juventus Test and Claudio Ranieri Is Back as Ultra-Competitive Serie A Returns

With the third international break of the season firmly in the rearview mirror, Serie A takes centre stage again this weekend.

Unpredictability has hitherto reigned supreme in the Italian top flight, with the top six teams separated by just two points.

It’s a similarly tight scenario at the opposite end of the table, where just two points separate Como in 15th place from bottom dwellers Venezia.

AC Milan will host Juventus at the San Siro on Saturday evening, which is the biggest fixture of the weekend.

Both teams desperately want answers. Seventh on the table with 18 points, the Rossoneri have been consistently inconsistent this season and followed up a memorable 3-1 win against Real Madrid with an underwhelming draw against Cagliari.

And yet every time Milan had their backs up against the wall in Paulo Fonseca’s first season in charge, they always answered emphatically – be it in the derby against Inter Milan in October or at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this month.

Matteo Gabbia and Alvaro Morata are available after recovering from injury. Still, Il Diavolo will again rely on Tijjani Reijnders – arguably their player of the season so far – and Rafael Leao on Saturday.

The Portuguese winger has often flattered to deceive this season, but his performance against Los Blancos was a timely reminder he remains a game-changer on his day.

Sixth on the table and three points ahead of Milan, Juventus remain a work in progress in Thiago Motta’s first season in charge.

The Bianconeri are the only unbeaten team in Serie A, have conceded goals on just three occasions but have looked worryingly blunt at the other end of the pitch at times.

All the same, a win against Milan would consolidate their title challenger credentials and potentially deal a terminal blow to Il Diavolo’s aspirations.

But while Fonseca has no injury concerns, the same cannot be said for Motta.

Dusan Vlahovic, Nico Gonzalez and Douglas Luiz are all out, along with long-term absentees Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal and Arkadiusz Milik. 

This means Motta will pick the 16th different starting XI in his 17 matches in charge of Juventus on Saturday, with one of Timothy Weah or Kenan Yildiz in the false nine role.

The former has already scored at the San Siro this season, finding the net against Inter, and would no doubt relish the chance of being on the scoresheet against his dad’s former team.

Before the showdown at the San Siro, Inter get the ball rolling early on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Verona, knowing that a win could momentarily put them on top of the table.

The Nerazzurri are a point behind league leaders Napoli, whom they held to a 1-1 draw at the San Siro in their final match before the international break.

Simone Inzaghi is expected to rest Hakan Calhanoglu, who complained of hamstring soreness after playing for Turkey during the week but welcomes Kristjan Asllani back.

Verona, meanwhile, desperately need points after heading into the international break on the back of one win and four defeats in their last five outings.

The rope-a-dope approach that worked so well early in the season for Paolo Zanetti’s men has lost its magic, and the Scaligeri are only three points away from the relegation zone.

Atalanta complete Saturday’s triple-header when they travel to Parma, looking for a seventh consecutive win in Serie A.

The Bergamaschi went into the international break just a point behind Napoli, who they thrashed 3-0 at the Maradona. Still, Gian Piero Gasperini has repeatedly refused to entertain talks of a title challenge.

“We’re not ready to win it right now,” he said ahead of the international break.

“Can we hope to improve? Yes, I believe so. Perhaps we can surprise a few people if the others underestimate us. In June, my goal was to reinforce the team without a complete overhaul. 

“We’re pleased with the progress, but we recognise that there’s still a significant amount of work to be done, particularly in terms of technical ability. And I’m not making excuses.”

Be that as it may, a win in Parma would momentarily put Atalanta top of the table.

It would also leave the Ducali in a precarious position, just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Fabio Pecchia’s side has played some sparkling football in their first campaign back in Serie A in four years, but the quality of their performances is not entirely reflected by their points tally.

On Sunday, meanwhile, all the attention will be on Naples where the league leaders welcome Roma in Claudio Ranieri’s first game in charge.

Having set the pace through the first three months of the season, Napoli’s momentum was checked in the last two matches before the international break.

If a 1-1 draw against Inter at the San Siro was a creditable result, the 3-0 defeat at home against Atalanta the previous week was a reminder that Antonio Conte’s team are far from being the finished article.

How Ranieri would love to have such problems. 

The 73-year-old is Roma’s third manager of the season after replacing Ivan Juric at the helm during the international break.

The Giallorossi languish in 12th place with 13 points, just four clear of the relegation zone.

Ranieri has worked miracles before, but his priority must be to lead Roma to calmer waters after a diabolical start to the campaign.

Elsewhere, third-placed Fiorentina travel to Como looking for a sixth consecutive win in Serie A, while Lazio hope to keep pace with the top four when they host Bologna.

Meanwhile, Patrick Viera will take charge of his first game as Genoa manager when the Rossoblu, who are just a point above the relegation zone, welcome Cagliari in the early kick-off on Sunday.