MILAN, Dec 20 (Reuters) - AC Milan will be pleased they are the 'away' side for Sunday's city derby with Serie A leaders Inter having failed to win at home in the league this season.
Although Milan lifted the Club World Cup last weekend and
saw their top player Kaka named FIFA world player of the year
on Monday, their Serie A form has been dire with five draws and
two defeats at the San Siro this term, leaving them in 11th
place.
Carlo Ancelotti's side, who share the stadium with Inter,
now have the chance to end their home hoodoo as the visiting
team, especially with champions Inter suffering an injury
crisis.
Midfielders Dejan Stankovic and Luis Jimenez are doubts
with Patrick Vieira, Luis Figo and Olivier Dacourt definitely
out.
Roberto Mancini's problems in the middle of the park have
not stopped his team going unbeaten this term however, and they
lead second-placed AS Roma by seven points after just 16 games.
The lack of midfielders forced Mancini to play a
three-pronged strike force of Julio Cruz, Hernan Crespo and
David Suazo in Sunday's 2-0 win at Cagliari and he may have to
try a similar system against Milan but with different
personnel.
Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, suspended for the
Cagliari game, was rested for Wednesday's 4-1 win over Reggina
in the Italian Cup last 16 first leg but will definitely start
on Sunday (1400) given his excellent form this term.
'Sunday's clash with Milan is a very important match
between two great teams with excellent players. It will
definitely be a wonderful match. It's certainly a bit different
to the other games,' Mancini told reporters.
Milan came through the Club World Cup in Japan largely
unscathed although striker Ronaldo will be unavailable to face
his former club because of a nagging fitness problems which
have restricted him to just one game this season.
Security will be tight given minor trouble at Milan derbies
in recent years.
Roma host Sampdoria on Saturday (1930) with Samp striker
Antonio Cassano banned from facing his old club after picking
up a booking in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Fiorentina.
Francesco Totti is a doubt after his foot problem
reappeared and forced him to miss Roma's lacklustre 0-0 draw at
Torino on Sunday.
Juventus, a point behind Roma in third, host strugglers
Siena on Sunday with fourth-placed Udinese entertaining
third-bottom Empoli.
