Serie A preview: Milan aim to strengthen position

Serie A leaders AC Milan will look to cement their position atop the standings when they host Fiorentina at the San Siro on Saturday.

Fresh from their 1-0 win over fierce rivals Inter on Sunday – courtesy of a penalty from star signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Milan are one point ahead of Lazio on top of the table, and coach Massimiliano Allegri said confidence is sky high.

“Our self-esteem is already very high but the derby (win) will give us a further boost at the moral level,” he said.

“It will do us good both (at) home and in the Champions League.”

Fiorentina are in 12th spot in the standings, and will be hoping to build on their 1-0 home win over Cesena on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, sixth-placed Roma welcome eighth-placed Udinese – who enjoyed a 4-0 win over Lecce last weekend – to the Olympic Stadium.

On Sunday, Inter boss Rafael Benitez will be hoping for a win at Chievo Verona to deflect speculation about his job security.

The Italian and European champions have recorded just one win in their last five league matches and, despite president Massimo Moratti publicly declaring his faith in Benitez, newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported he could face the axe if results do not improve.

Chievo sit in 11th position in the Serie A table, but have been kept goalless in their past four league matches.

Elsewhere on Sunday, second-placed Lazio face a tricky trip to face 14th-placed Parma at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

Parma have not been in great form so far this season, but they did enjoy a 1-0 win over Bari in their last league start.

Third-placed Napoli play host to a Bologna side in 15th position, while fourth-placed Juventus travel to Genoa.

Catania play host to a Bari side anchored to the foot of the table, and Palermo make the trip to face Cesena.

Sampdoria travel to the Stadio Via del Mare to face Lecce, while new Cagliari boss Roberto Donadoni faces an away trip to Brescia in his first match at the helm.