Inter Milan defender Francesco Acerbi continues to be assessed after limping out of Saturday’s 4-2 Serie A victory at Roma.

The 36-year-old Italy international has undergone tests which have identified a “slight muscle strain” and his condition will be monitored ahead of Friday’s league clash with lowly Salernitana and the Champions League showdown with Atletico Madrid which follows next Tuesday.

A statement on the club’s official website said: “Francesco Acerbi underwent medical tests this morning (Monday) at the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Rozzano.

“The Nerazzurri defender has a slight muscle strain in his right leg. His condition will be assessed over the coming days.”

Acerbi, who scored the opening goal at the Stadio Olimpico at the weekend, has made 28 appearances to date for Inter this season.

Theo Hernandez’s first-half strike gave AC Milan a sixth win from seven Serie A matches with a 1-0 victory over Napoli.

The reigning champions made a bright start but Hernandez’s goal changed the complexion of the match for a Napoli side low on confidence.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Matteo Politano hit the woodwork for the visitors after the break but they could not find an equaliser to prevent a seventh league defeat of the season.

Napoli created the first big chance of the game when Kvaratskhelia skinned Matteo Gabbia and sent a drilled delivery into the area but Giovanni Simeone could not guide his effort beyond goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

Walter Mazzarri’s side continued to make most of the running in the opening stages but AC Milan took the lead against the run of play through a devastating counter-attack as Rafael Leao slipped Hernandez through on goal and he whipped the ball past Pierluigi Gollini at the near post.

Milan had an opportunity to make it two moments later when Leao found himself with space outside the box but his bending effort was diverted away from the top corner by Gollini.

Napoli’s frustrations were compounded when Piotr Zielinski picked himself up after being fouled on the left of the area but wastefully sent a free-kick out for a goal-kick.

The visitors had the first chance of the second half when Politano tried his luck from 20 yards but his effort did not quite get the curl needed to nestle in the bottom corner.

Hernandez could have doubled his tally in style when a corner fell to the defender inside the area and his clever back-heeled volley flew into Gollini’s gloves.

Napoli responded with another chance, this time Kvaratskhelia cut in from the left but hit a rather tame strike into Maignan’s grasp.

The visitors gifted possession to Yunus Musah and offered Milan a chance to give themselves some breathing space but Leao struck wide of the far post.

Napoli began to run out of ideas and were limited to long-range efforts, the next being Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s shot from 25 yards which flew comfortably wide of the target.

The visitors’ flurry of second-half chances did not stop and they came within inches of levelling when Jesper Lindstrom’s cross was deflected onto a post by Jan-Carlo Simic as Milan held on.

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri will equal Marcello Lippi’s mark of 405 games in charge of the club in Monday’s home game against Udinese.

Allegri will draw level with former great Lippi in Juve’s all-time list and behind only Giovanni Trapattoni, who was head coach for 454 matches between 1976 and 1986.

Juve will cut the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan to four points with victory and Allegri acknowledged it will be a special occasion for him.

The 56-year-old told a press conference: “I’m very proud to hit 405 games in charge of Juventus, especially because it puts me level with a coach like Lippi, someone who wrote history and someone whom I have a lot of affection for.”

Allegri has guided Juve to five Serie A titles and two Champions League finals – they lost both – during his two spells as head coach.

Lippi also won five domestic titles in two separate stints in charge and was a Champions League winner with the club in 1996. He also led them to three other Champions League finals.

Allegri is hoping his current side can consolidate their place in the top four by returning to winning ways against Udinese after last week’s 1-0 defeat at Inter, who extended their lead at the top by winning 4-2 at Roma on Saturday.

“We didn’t learn (on Saturday) night that Inter are the favourites and that they’re doing great things,” Allegri said.

“We’ve got 53 points and it’s important to get back to winning ways. We need to pull further clear of fifth place and go within four points of first.

“We have no shortage of motivation. We want to get back into the Champions League and on Monday, even if it’s not decisive, it is a very important game. Mentally we’re in good shape.”

Udinese have taken just two points from their last five league games and sit above the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Their solitary win on the road this season was against AC Milan in November.

Allegri said: “Udinese don’t deserve to be where they are in the table. They’ve dropped a lot of points late on in matches, but they have excellent players. They’re physical and they deserve respect.”

Juve’s new signing Carlos Alcaraz made his debut as a late substitute at Inter last week and is hoping to feature again following his loan move from Southampton earlier this month.

Allegri added: “Alcaraz has a lot of quality and the potential to improve. He’s put himself at our disposal, but he’s not ready to start.”

Marcus Thuram inspired a strong second-half fightback as Inter Milan extended their lead at the top of Serie A to seven points with a 4-2 win over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Thuram flicked home from a Matteo Darmian cross four minutes after the break then pressured Roma defender Angelino into turning a ball from the left into his own net six minutes later.

Roma pressed desperately for an equaliser, but Inter made sure of the points deep into stoppage time when defender Alessandro Bastoni finished off a swift counter-attack.

Victory allowed Inter to build on their crucial win over title rivals Juventus last week, while it spelled a first defeat for new Roma head coach Daniele De Rossi after three straight wins.

Seeking another win that would send them up to fourth, Roma started with confidence, and Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer had to tip over a shot from Stephan El Shaarawy inside the opening minute.

Matias Pellegrini also came close from distance, but Inter grew into the game and grabbed the lead in the 18th minute when Federico Dimarco’s corner was headed home by Francesco Acerbi.

But Roma were level within 10 minutes when Gianluca Mancini nodded home from a free-kick, with set-plays proving dangerous for both sides in the slippery conditions.

An end-to-end clash saw chances for Dimarco and Paulo Dybala at both ends before the hosts stunned Inter by grabbing the lead moments before the half-time break.

Pellegrini led a sweeping counter-attack that sent the ball out to El Shaarawy on the left flank and his rising shot clattered against both posts before nestling in the net to put Roma 2-1 up.

Inter responded strongly at the start of the second half and it took them only four minutes to level when Thuram met Darmian’s cross with the neatest of finishes.

Angelino was unfortunate to divert the next past his own keeper after 56 minutes and Inter were intent on pressing home their advantage with Benjamin Pavard striking the post with a fine shot moments later.

Roma’s best chance to give an engrossing game one final twist came in the 71st minute when former Inter man Romelu Lukaku was played clean through, but had the ball picked off his feet by the alert Sommer.

It sparked a grandstand finish from the home side with Sommer having to be on his toes again to tip away an effort from Leonardo Spinazzola with six minutes left on the clock.

But Roma’s increasing desperation left holes at the back and the visitors confirmed victory after a thrilling game through the unlikely figure of Bastoni.

Stefano Pioli believes his longevity in the AC Milan top job speaks for itself amid ceaseless speculation the boss could soon be replaced at San Siro.

Milan, who won the Serie A title under Pioli in 2022, have won six of their last eight games in an unbeaten spell but nevertheless sit eight points behind league leaders and city rivals Inter Milan ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Napoli.

Pioli took charge of the Rossoneri in October 2019 and is poised to draw level with Milan great Arrigo Sacchi – a 1988 Scudetto winner and twice a European champion with the club – on 220 matches coached this weekend.

However, reports in Italy continue to suggest the likes of Julen Lopetegui and Antonio Conte are being lined up to replace him, a situation which the 58-year-old is growing increasingly fed up with.

He told a press conference: “Sacchi was a fantastic coach of his era, an innovator. Equalling him for the number of appearances in the Rossoneri dugout can only make me proud.

“I love my work, I have great passion for it, I have been fortunate in my career as a coach and a player.

“The pleasure of coaching always trumps the pressure and criticism, the positive elements prevail, in particular having a group of special people.”

Despite Napoli being the reigning champions, they are languishing down in seventh place under Walter Mazzarri. Pioli is suitably wary of their many threats, though.

“Napoli are not doing great in the table but they have great statistics, especially in attack,” he said. “Tactics have changed with Mazzarri. Napoli have quality, we need to face them with respect and focus.

“Both sides have forwards that can change the game, we will also need to be tight in the midfield. There needs to be a high level of organisation and play.”

Mazzarri has endured his own share of negative appraisals from Naples and beyond as he looks to steer the Azzurri back towards the Champions League places following a disappointing start to the campaign under predecessor Rudi Garcia.

The former Watford manager hopes Napoli turned a corner after last weekend’s victory over Hellas Verona.

He said: “Sixteen finals remain and perhaps the curse is lifting, let’s hope this is start of a new journey for us.”

Milan’s Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is banned for the Sunday clash with Mario Rui suspended for the visitors, while Victor Osimhen is away contesting the Africa Cup of Nations final with Nigeria.

Roma manager Daniele De Rossi said his players will not be daunted by the visit of Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Saturday – and insisted “no team is unbeatable”.

Inter Milan secured a 1-0 win against second-placed Juventus last weekend to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table.

Roma, who last month parted company with Jose Mourinho, sit in fifth position, 19 points behind their opponents on Saturday.

But De Rossi’s side will face Inter at the Stadio Olimpico fresh from an impressive 4-0 mauling of Cagliari – their third consecutive win since De Rossi took the managerial reins.

Roma have lost five of their previous six league games against Inter – last securing a home Serie A victory in 2016 – while Simone Inzaghi’s side have suffered just one defeat so far this season.

However, speaking ahead of Saturday’s match, De Rossi told a press conference: “No team is unbeatable and that goes for Inter too.

“We all agree that they’re the best team in Serie A. We know that this is a step up compared to the three matches we’ve won since my arrival.

“The bar will be raised. Planning needs to be more meticulous – our preparations for this game are different since we’re up against a team who are used to enjoying a lot of possession and dominating games.

“We should also be aware that there are times when they could be under the cosh. There are means of ruffling their feathers, as is the case in any fixture.

“But while we’re aware that we’re up against a formidable side, we also know that we ourselves are a top team capable of putting in a great performance.”

Mourinho departed Roma after a poor run of results under the Portuguese boss, with De Rossi, who made 616 appearances and scored 63 goals for the Giallorossi, placed in charge.

The former Italy international’s only previous managerial experience was an underwhelming four-month spell in charge of Serie B side SPAL.

“I believe I can do this job, I want to do this job and I’m very passionate,” he added.

“Perhaps a little fortunately I’ve found myself in the job I’d dream of doing all my life, so I’m trying to give it my absolute all without worrying about labels, or what did and didn’t happen before.

“I’m thinking one day at a time and just focusing on enjoying the ride. I don’t know how long it will last but I’m loving it.”

Inter Milan edged out Juventus 1-0 in the Derby d’Italia to move four points clear at the top of Serie A.

There was little to choose between the sides at San Siro, but the Nerazzurri made the crucial breakthrough just before half-time when Juve defender Federico Gatti diverted a cross into his own net.

Juve goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny produced a fine late save from Inter substitute Marko Arnautovic as Simone Inzaghi’s men put themselves firmly in the driving seat for the Scudetto.

Inter had started brightly, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s long-range effort deflecting just wide.

Federico Dimarco went close in the 18th minute when he met a cross from Benjamin Pavard at the back post, but sent a volley into the side-netting.

Hakan Calhanoglu picked out Dimarco with a crossfield pass, which the Inter winger then laid on to Marcus Thuram, who looked set to slot the ball in – but Juve’s Brazilian defender Bremer made a superb saving tackle.

Juve threatened when Weston McKennie pushed forwards and played in Dusan Vlahovic, but the Serbian forward’s first touch was too heavy.

Inter – playing a first match at home in a month after two away trips were sandwiched by Super Cup success in Saudi Arabia – eventually made their pressure count in the 37th minute.

After Pavard missed his scissor-kick at a cross in from the right, Thuram just failed to connect with his diving header as the ball bobbled towards goal, then bounced off Gatti for an own goal.

After a slow start to the second half, Inter almost doubled their lead just before the hour when Calhanoglu’s shot hit the outside of the post.

Gatti nearly made amends with an equaliser when his shot flew just wide, before Szczesny saved from Nicolo Barella.

With three minutes left, Szczesny produced a brilliant save at full stretch to deny Arnautovic at point-blank range as he looked to knock in a cross through the Juve penalty area from fellow substitute Denzel Dumfries.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side suffered just a second league defeat of the season, bringing to an end their 19-match unbeaten run through all competitions.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s incredible strike saw Napoli come from behind to beat Verona 2-1 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Serie A.

A dramatic final 20 minutes saw Verona take the lead through Diego Coppola in the 72nd minute, but Napoli shortly equalised seven minutes later through Cyril Ngonge – who joined them from their opponents last month.

Kvaratskhelia then capped a dramatic comeback in the 87th minute with a fantastic goal dispatched into the top corner to win it for the hosts.

Napoli were straight out of the blocks to dominate in the opening stages with Matteo Politano firing in some dangerous crosses and they had a penalty shout waved away in the seventh minute when Kvaratskhelia was brought down in the box.

The Georgian forward had a fantastic chance minutes later with a powerful effort across goal that forced Lorenzo Montipo into a save at full stretch to tip the ball away.

Kvaratskhelia tested the goalkeeper again after blasting a first-time volley just outside of the box but Montipo reacted well to stop the ball finding the bottom corner.

Verona did well to defend a dangerous free-kick from Kvaratskhelia before the visitors went on the attack just before the break with Michael Folorunsho flicking the ball past the post before Darko Lazovic’s ambitious effort from distance curled wide.

The visitors had a great chance to take the lead minutes into the second half when Ondrej Duda’s free-kick found Coppola at the back post but the defender fired wide.

Verona threatened again when Lazovic’s curling effort was palmed out for a corner by Pierluigi Gollini.

Montipo was called into action at the other end to punch away Kvaratskhelia’s free-kick before the resulting corner saw the goalkeeper deny Giovanni Simeone from close-range.

Following some great pressure throughout the half, Verona took the lead in the 72nd minute when Tomas Suslov’s free-kick curled to Coppola at the back and the ball bounced off the defender’s shoulder across goal into the bottom corner.

Napoli pressed for the equaliser and came close minutes later when Montipo kept out Pasquale Mazzocchi’s shot before making another brilliant save to tip Jesper Lindstrom’s powerful strike from the rebound over the bar.

The hosts managed to level in the 79th minute when Lindstrom played a low cross into former Verona player Ngonge, who was unmarked in the box and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Kvaratskhelia completed the turnaround with a stunning strike, turning outside of the box before sweetly curling the ball into the top right corner and despite some late pressure from Verona the hosts were able to see the game out.

Luka Jovic made the difference for AC Milan one minute after coming on as an 80th-minute substitute with the winning strike in their 3-2 Serie A victory at Frosinone.

Olivier Giroud nodded in the opener which was cancelled out before the break by Matias Soule’s penalty, but Luca Mazzitelli fired the hosts in front after half-time.

The sides were back on level terms when Matteo Gabbia, assisted by Giroud, found the back of the net with a diving header before Serbia striker Jovic wrapped up the win.

The result sees AC Milan – in third – move to within four points of second-placed Juventus, having played one more game, while Serie A leaders Inter Milan have two games on hand over Stefano Pioli’s men.

There was a chance inside the first minute for Soule, who fired the ball over the crossbar, as the hosts piled on more pressure in the opening exchanges.

Yet it was the visitors who soon settled in and took the lead in the 17th minute, when Giroud connected with Rafael Leao’s pinpoint cross and cushioned the opener into the bottom right.

Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan had only just made his first save, tipping Demba Seck’s effort over the crossbar, when Leao was punished for a handball at the right edge of his side’s 18-yard box.

Milan protested, but the penalty was ultimately upheld after a VAR check and Soule stepped up to the spot and fired past Maignan, who moved in the right direction but could not make the stop.

The period with electric pace slowed only briefly when Giroud appeared to tweak his ankle but was deemed fit to continue and soon came painstakingly close to picking up an assist, his delivery across the face of goal from a tight angle narrowly evading both the head of Yacine Adli and a diving Leao.

The hosts wanted Christian Pulisic charged with another handball, but the penalty shout was waived off, and Tijjani Reijnders was unable to break the deadlock when he nodded straight at Stefano Turati.

The Frosinone goalkeeper was forced into a nervy save deep in first-half stoppage time, reacting quickly after Leao’s effort took a dangerous deflection off Caleb Okoli and flew dangerously toward the far corner – Turati just able to stretch his hand out for the stop.

The hosts took the lead in the 65th minute, Soule slipping the ball to Mazzitelli, who came up the middle before handing his side the advantage with a low finish.

The home support had barely finished celebrating when Adli, from a corner, sent a cross to Giroud, who nodded towards the ball in the direction of Gabbia, who drew the sides level with a diving header.

Pioli brought in Jovic for Christian Pulisic in the 80th minute, a decision that paid off instantly when the Serbia striker pounced on a loose ball that had bounced off grounded Frosinone defender Simone Romagnoli and fired home.

Napoli head coach Walter Mazzarri has stressed a Champions League place is still attainable for the Serie A title-holders as they prepare to host Hellas Verona on Sunday.

After winning a first Scudetto in 33 years last season under Luciano Spalletti, the Partenopei have had a significant drop off in a 2023-24 campaign that saw new boss Rudi Garcia replaced by Mazzarri in November.

Their nine league games since then have comprised three wins, two draws and four losses, and they are currently ninth in the table, four points behind fourth place.

Asked at a press conference if the Champions League spots remained a realistic objective for Napoli, Mazzarri said: “I don’t look at the table for my own reasons.

“But it’s clear that there are many teams within three to four points, and therefore the objective is possible.”

Since starting the calendar year with a 3-0 loss at Torino, Napoli – still without star striker Victor Osimhen due to international duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations – have won 2-1 at home against Salernitana, beaten Fiorentina 3-0, lost 1-0 to AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana and drawn 0-0 at Lazio in their return to league action last weekend.

Mazzarri said: “In the last few games we created little, for various reasons, also due to the strength of the opponents, but we returned solid and balanced, after the very bad performance in Torino.

“It’s clear that we will need to be more aggressive and proactive to create scoring opportunities, perhaps even shooting from outside, because we can’t always enter the area with triangles and penetrations.

“This week we are also working on this aspect and I think we will see the results.”

Napoli face a Verona outfit who went into the weekend just outside the relegation zone, and who brought in a trio of players on transfer deadline day – Stefan Mitrovic, Karol Swiderski and Fabien Centonze.

Boss Marco Baroni told a press conference ahead of the trip to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona: “We need points, but we have to start from the performance.

“These are complicated and difficult stadiums, where we must not be afraid. We will have to play a match of personality, having great respect for the opponent.

“These are teams against which you have to be very careful within the performance. We will need to be compact, focused, and help each other on the pitch.”

Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi insists Sunday’s clash with Juventus will not be decisive in the Serie A title race.

Italy’s top two clubs do battle at the San Siro with only one point separating the sides and the winner guaranteed to finish the weekend at the summit.

It will be leaders Inter’s first match at home in a month after two away trips were sandwiched by Super Cup success in Saudi Arabia and they could take a big step towards a first title since 2021 with all three points.

“Tomorrow’s match is very important, but not decisive,” Inzaghi told a press conference.

“It will be very close, in the first leg (game) it was not an exciting match, but now we are playing at home in front of our fans and we will try to play a match in the best possible way.

“Juventus had a great journey, similar to ours, we are preparing as best we can .

“Both teams will have pressure, we must be happy to play this great match. There will be pressure as it should be, but we must be proud to play this challenge, we will have the push of the fans who we want to make happy.”

Inter have won 17 of their 21 Serie A matches and could open up a four-point gap at the top with a game in hand with victory over Juventus.

The first clash between the teams ended 1-1 back in November, but the hosts will be without former Juventus ace Juan Cuadrado due to injury.

Inzaghi added: “There has been a lot of talk about favourites, we are Inter and we know we have great responsibilities in every match.

“We have already played 30 very positive ones, in January we played five matches in 22 days, of which the last four were away from San Siro and we won a trophy.

“We have to look ahead though, we want to make this match ours. I wouldn’t make comparisons though, there are still four months to go and it’s not yet decisive.”

Inzaghi has won eight cups since becoming a manager, but not tasted Serie A success.

Opposite number Massimiliano Allegri has won six Scudettos, five of them during his first spell with Juventus.

However, Inzaghi, 47, played down suggestions the match will be decided by the two coaches, with Allegri winning nine of their 18 meetings.

 

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“I have great respect for Allegri. Fortunately we have won a lot with Juventus, even if we have also lost in recent years,” Inzaghi said.

“The challenge is not Inzaghi-Allegri, but Inter-Juventus. The protagonists are the players who go on the pitch to help their teams.

“Allegri has won a lot, he is a winning and expert coach. He is very practical, I like him a lot.

“I think I saw an excellent Juventus this year. They won 16 games out of 21. They were very good, to keep the Inter’s pace required a super team and they are proving to be one.”

Defiant AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has brushed off talk that Antonio Conte is being lined up to replace him.

Milan head into Saturday’s Serie A trip to Frosinone sitting in third place in the table but seven points adrift of Juventus in second and eight behind leaders Inter Milan, who have a game in hand on both.

The top two meet at the San Siro on Sunday evening, by which point Pioli’s men will hope to have closed the gap – although whether that would placate his critics is doubtful, with the club’s receding title hopes having been dealt a further blow by last weekend’s 2-2 home draw with Bologna.

Asked about the speculation linking former Italy boss Conte with his job, the 58-year-old told a press conference: “It doesn’t bother me at all. Maybe it bores me a little.

“What matters is that I and my players think we can do our best between now and the end of the season.

“The future doesn’t worry or bother me. We just want to demonstrate, the team and I, all our value.”

Milan will run out at the Stadio Benito Stirpe defending a seven-game unbeaten league run, with Atalanta the last side to beat them in the competition on December 9.

Wins over Monza, Sassuolo, Empoli, Roma and Udinese, coupled with draws against Salernitana and Bologna, since have helped them keep pace with Inter and Juve, if only just, but Pioli insists they simply have to concentrate on themselves as they attempt to claw back lost ground.

He said: “The season is still long and can give us further satisfaction. We have to put all our attention on the next match. Inter v Juve shouldn’t interest us.”

Frosinone will take to the field having halted a five-game losing run with a home victory over Cagliari followed by a draw at Verona, although the quality of the opposition this time around is significantly higher.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s men lost 3-1 at Milan on December 2 and have won only one of the eight league games they have played since.

Di Francesco will make late decisions on a lengthy list of injury doubts including Sergio Kalaj, Riccardo Marchizza, Anthony Oyono, Jaime Baez, Pol Lirola, Kevin Bonifazi, Mateus Lusuardi, Nadir Zortea, Marvin Cuni and Arijon Ibrahimovic.

Defiant AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli has brushed off talk that Antonio Conte is being lined up to replace him.

Milan head into Saturday’s Serie A trip to Frosinone sitting in third place in the table but seven points adrift of Juventus in second and eight behind leaders Inter Milan, who have a game in hand on both.

The top two meet at the San Siro on Sunday evening, by which point Pioli’s men will hope to have closed the gap – although whether that would placate his critics is doubtful, with the club’s receding title hopes having been dealt a further blow by last weekend’s 2-2 home draw with Bologna.

Asked about the speculation linking former Italy boss Conte with his job, the 58-year-old told a press conference: “It doesn’t bother me at all. Maybe it bores me a little.

“What matters is that I and my players think we can do our best between now and the end of the season.

“The future doesn’t worry or bother me. We just want to demonstrate, the team and I, all our value.”

Milan will run out at the Stadio Benito Stirpe defending a seven-game unbeaten league run, with Atalanta the last side to beat them in the competition on December 9.

Wins over Monza, Sassuolo, Empoli, Roma and Udinese, coupled with draws against Salernitana and Bologna, since have helped them keep pace with Inter and Juve, if only just, but Pioli insists they simply have to concentrate on themselves as they attempt to claw back lost ground.

He said: “The season is still long and can give us further satisfaction. We have to put all our attention on the next match. Inter v Juve shouldn’t interest us.”

Frosinone will take to the field having halted a five-game losing run with a home victory over Cagliari followed by a draw at Verona, although the quality of the opposition this time around is significantly higher.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s men lost 3-1 at Milan on December 2 and have won only one of the eight league games they have played since.

Di Francesco will make late decisions on a lengthy list of injury doubts including Sergio Kalaj, Riccardo Marchizza, Anthony Oyono, Jaime Baez, Pol Lirola, Kevin Bonifazi, Mateus Lusuardi, Nadir Zortea, Marvin Cuni and Arijon Ibrahimovic.

AC Milan defender Marco Pellegrino has completed a loan move to Salernitana for the remainder of the season.

The 21-year-old Argentinian joined Milan’s struggling Serie A rivals a day after the move looked to have fallen through.

Pellegrino played for former club Platense until July last year before joining the Rossoneri, for whom he made his debut as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with Napoli in October, and was therefore deemed to have played for two clubs this season.

However, after reported talks with FIFA, both clubs announced the deal had gone through on deadline day.

A statement on Milan’s website on Thursday said: “AC Milan announces that Marco Pellegrino has signed for US Salernitana on loan until 30 June 2024. The club wishes Marco a great second half of the season.”

Salernitana’s statement said: “US Salernitana 1919 announces that it has reached an agreement with AC Milan for the temporary transfer until 30 June 2024 of defender Marco Pellegrino. The player will wear the number 24 shirt.”

Italy international Andrea Belotti has joined Fiorentina on loan from Serie A rivals Roma for the remainder of the season.

The 30-year-old striker, who has 44 senior caps and was a late substitute in his country’s Euro 2020 final victory over England, joined Roma from Torino in August 2022, but has made only six league starts this season.

A statement on Fiorentina’s official website said: “ACF Fiorentina is pleased to announce the signing of Andrea Belotti on loan from A.S. Roma.

“The striker, who was born in Calcinate on 20 December 1993, has amassed over 100 goals in Serie A for Palermo, Torino and Roma.

“Belotti has also turned out for the senior Italy team 44 times, netting 12 goals and winning Euro 2020.”

Belotti’s move was confirmed by Roma, who wished him luck with his new club.

A statement on their official website said: “AS Roma can confirm that forward Andrea Belotti has joined ACF Fiorentina on loan until 30 June 2024.

“Belotti joined the Giallorossi in the summer of 2022, going on to make 68 appearances for the club over the last two seasons.

“He has scored 10 goals for Roma, the first against Helsinki in the Europa League on 15 September 2022. Good luck, Andrea!”

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