Serie A preview: Milan wary of challengers

League leaders AC Milan will look to hold on to top spot in Serie A when they take on Sampdoria on Saturday, while Lazio face Catania.

Milan, who hold a three-point advantage over second-placed Lazio, secured qualification to the knock-out stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Auxerre on Tuesday and are now unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has led the way for Milan this season, with the Swedish international’s goals firing the club into title contention during their first season under new coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Securing first place invites a new set of problems, with Gennaro Gattuso concerned that opponents will raise their game when they come up against Milan.

“The difficult times are still to come. All the teams we face from now on will have the attitude of those facing the Serie A leaders and will give 100 percent,” Gattuso said.

“The three points get more and more important, week by week.”

Deposed early front-runners Lazio will look to keep pace with Milan when they host mid-table Catania at the Stadio Olimpico.

Edy Reja’s side could only manage a 1-1 draw at Parma in the league last Sunday, but they did record a 3-0 win over Serie B side Albinoleffe in the Coppa Italia on Thursday.

Catania also enjoyed some Cup success in midweek, hammering Brescia 5-1 at home. Unfortunately for Marco Giampaolo’s side, they will be without suspended key man Maxi Lopez, who scored two in Thursday’s win.

Lopez has been linked with a move to Turin side Juventus, who are away at Fiorentina on Saturday.

Inter Milan are at home to Parma on Sunday, with under fire manager Rafael Benitez badly in need of a victory.

The defending champions went down 2-1 to Chievo last weekend, and are now without their main goal-scorer after Samuel Eto’o received a three-match ban for headbutting an opponent.

Elsewhere on Sunday, second-bottom Cesena visit last place Bari, while fellow strugglers Brescia are at home to midtable Genoa.

Lecce and Cagliari, two sides hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, meet at Cagliari’s Stadio Sant’Elia, with both keen to put distance between themselves and the drop.

Napoli and Roma, third and fifth in the table, will be seeking a win to keep pace with the leaders when they travel to Udinese and Palermo respectively.