Football | Serie A | AC Milan out to reclaim top spot

Thursday 16th February 2012

AC Milan out to reclaim top spot

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi believes his side is the team to beat in Italy.

AC Milan go into Sunday's game at relegation-threatened Cesena with a full head of steam after Wednesday's demolition of Arsenal in the Champions League.

"We've never had a doubt about our chances to win the league title for the second consecutive season," Berlusconi said to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We are convinced that we are superior to Juventus, without disrespecting them."

The Rossoneri, coached by Massimiliano Allegri, have certainly been impressive.

They won 3-1 last week at Udinese and followed that up with the 4-0 first-leg triumph over Arsenal in their Champions League last-16 tie.

"This is the first step," Berlusconi said. "But we have to take another step in the return leg in London next month."

In the meantime, the Rossoneri must prepare for a challenging schedule in Italy which sees them visiting Juventus after the Cesena clash.

Lazio take on Palermo at La Favorita looking to end their rivals' three-match winning streak at home.

Last weekend's defeat to Milan was Udinese's first this season in Serie A at the Friuli stadium, the venue for Sunday's game against Cagliari.

Udinese will be without Serie A's top scorer Antonio Di Natale, who is out with a foot injury.

Roma will look to end Parma's five-match unbeaten run when the two sides meet at the Stadio Olimpico.

Genoa and Chievo will battle at the Luigi Ferraris stadium with both teams attempting to avoid their third straight defeat.

Chievo are three points behind mid-table Genoa.

Siena travel to 18th-placed Lecce on Sunday trying to put some more distance between themselves and the bottom three.

The Tuscan outfit beat Roma 1-0 on Monday to climb five points clear of the relegation zone.

Novara go into Sunday's game against Atalanta on the back of the triumph at Inter, their first win since November 26.

The result left the last-placed team in Italy six points from safety.

Friday and Saturday

Juventus moved to the top of Serie A thanks to a 3-1 win over 10-man Catania.

Pablo Barrientos gave Catania the lead in the fourth minute but Andrea Pirlo levelled matters in the 22nd minute.

A red card for Marco Motta in the 64th minute left Catania with a battle on their hands and it was one they lost with Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Quagliarella scoring to earn Antonio Conte's side all three points and take them above AC Milan into top spot.

Claudio Ranieri's future as Inter Milan coach was hanging in the balance after the Nerazzurri were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Bologna, prompting nostalgic calls from the home faithful for former coach Jose Mourinho.

Two goals in a minute from Marco Di Vaio put the visitors in control in the first half of the Serie A encounter and Robert Acquafresca sealed the points five minutes from time, leaving Inter without a win in their last five games.

Mourinho's name could be heard echoing around the San Siro during the final five minutes of a match which once again laid bare Inter's frailties - they now risk falling eight points behind the top four this weekend.

Edinson Cavani scored twice as Napoli strolled to a 3-0 victory at Fiorentina to leapfrog Inter Milan into fifth.

The visitors were ahead in just the third minute through Cavani, who added a second 10 minutes after the break.

And strike partner Ezequiel Lavezzi got in on the act in stoppage time to add gloss to the scoreline.