Serie A preview: Milan focus turns to home

Serie A leaders AC Milan return to league action against Bari on Sunday after the bitter disappointment of their Champions League exit.

Milan dominated Wednesday’s clash with Spurs at White Hart Lane, but could not find a way past the Tottenham rearguard, and with the Londoners holding a 1-0 advantage after the first leg in Italy, the 2007 champions were eliminated at the round of 16.

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic claimed his side deserved better, but insisted they would respond from the setback by fighting even harder domestically.

“Over two legs Tottenham had one shot on goal and scored,” Ibrahimovic said. “The best team doesn’t always win.”

“It’s a shame we went out of the Champions League, but we still have the Scudetto and Coppa Italia to focus on.”

Ibrahimovic is looking to add to his tally of 14 league goals against bottom-placed Bari, whose defence has leaked 61 league goals this season.

With 10 games to play, European champions Inter Milan are five points behind their fierce rivals ahead of their trip to Brescia on Friday.

Inter are the only Italian side left in the Champions League, but face a daunting task on Tuesday against the German champions Bayern Munich, who snatched a 1-0 win in the first leg at the San Siro.

On Saturday, Juventus will hope to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Milan when they travel to struggling Cesena.

Sixth-placed Roma exited the Champions League on Tuesday after a 3-0 loss to Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk left them on the receiving end of a 6-2 aggregate defeat.

On Sunday, their caretaker coach Vincenzo Montella will be looking to respond in the best possible fashion, with victory at the Olympic Stadium against fierce rivals Lazio.

Also on Sunday, third-placed Napoli – who are eight points off the pace – travel to 15th-placed Parma, while in-form Udinese continue their push for Champions League football next season with a visit to Cagliari.

Palermo face a trip to Genoa, Lecce play host to Bologna, Chievo take on Fiorentina while Sampdoria and Catania will be looking to put some more breathing space between themselves and the relegation zone when they meet at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.