Milan looks to dent resurgent Roma

AC Milan, at the center of takeover uncertainty and with coach Filippo Inzaghi unlikely to survive until next season, can have a hand in the Champions League shakeup when it faces Roma on Saturday.

The 18-time Serie A champion and winner of the European Cup on seven occasions is marooned in the middle of the standings with just 43 points - 36 behind Juventus, which wrapped up the title last weekend.

It goes into its home clash with second-place Roma on the back of three straight losses and a winless run of five matches.

To make matters worse, it will be without top scorer Jeremy Menez, who is injured, and defender Mattia De Sciglio who was red carded just 50 seconds into the clash with Napoli last Sunday - the fastest banishment in Serie A this season.

As a consequence, Milan went down to a 3-0 loss to the Europa League semifinalist.

Despite its problems, Milan's former Roma defender Philippe Mexes believes the only way is up for the San Siro giant as it has one eye on next season.

"We really can't do much worse. We have to stay united. We know the fans are not happy and it's up to us to get them back on our side," Mexes, who spent seven years at Roma, told the club's TV channel.

"They are fighting for second place, are a united side and have a fine coach. After a bit of a wobble, they are doing well again with two wins in a row."

Rudi Garcia's Roma needs to finish second to guarantee entry into the Champions League group stages.

It is currently one point ahead of city rival Lazio, which hosts Inter Milan on Sunday.

Roma leapfrogged Lazio into second place last weekend thanks to a 2-0 win over Genoa.

Lazio, meanwhile, was outplayed for large periods at Atalanta and could only manage a 1-1 draw to slip a point behind Roma with four games to play.

But Lazio captain Stefano Mauri said he was unconcerned if his team finishes second or third - which would require playing in the qualifying round.

"We hope to get into the Champions League - it's not important whether it's second or third place," he said.

Inter is eighth, just two places above its city rival, but still entertains hopes of making the Europa League next season.

Juventus won the Italian title for the 31st time last Saturday after Arturo Vidal's strike saw Massimiliano Allegri's side defeat Sampdoria 1-0. It was Juventus' fourth league title in a row with as many games to spare this season.

It then took that form into a Champions League semifinal duel with Real Madrid, carving out a 2-1 advantage to take to Spain next Wednesday.

Juventus hosts relegation-haunted Cagliari and is hopeful that French midfielder Paul Pogba will be fit to play after a six-week absence caused by a thigh injury.

(China Daily 05/09/2015 page8)