PREVIEW: AC Milan want no more beatings from Juve

By Alberto Cagliano Feb 23, 2012, 9:46 GMT

Rome - Leaders AC Milan aim to avoid a third season defeat against Juventus when they host them in Saturday's Serie A table topper.

Milan hold a one-point lead over unbeaten Juve, who have a game in hand.

While the outcome at the Guiseppe Meazza won't decide the title race, it could set the tone for the rest of the season.

'Against us Juve have done very well in the other two games,' said Milan's Brazil fullback Thiago Silva, recalling October's 2-0 away defeat and a recent 2-1 home edging in the first-leg of the Italian Cup semi-finals.

'They have a great will to win, but we too have found again this will, therefore it will be a beautiful game. We must win because it is a tie for the title and we cannot make more mistakes.'

Beside the loss in Turin, Milan have also been defeated in the league by Napoli, Inter Milan and Lazio.

But have done rather well recently and boosted their morale last week with a 4-0 crushing of Arsenal in the Champions League's round of 16.

Juve, who have no European duty, are regretting their habit of drawing with small sides - two 0-0 came this month against Siena and Parma - for a total of 10 draws from 23 games.

After poor showings from Alessandro Matri, Mirko Vucinic and Fabio Quagliarella, the club's website this week reported about extra shot-at-goal sessions ordered by coach Antonio Conte, who cannot complain about a defence that only conceded 14 goals.

Milan, on 48 goals, have the league's best attack, 12 more than Juve, but are not as reliable in defence, with 21 conceded.

Good news for Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is the return of veteran Alessandro Nesta and Brazil forward Pato, but Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is in doubt.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, boasting 15 goals, hopes for a ban reduction from three to two games to be on the pitch Saturday. A ruling on his appeal was expected later Thursday.

Another big match takes place late Sunday between Napoli, buoying after a 3-1 beating of Chelsea in the Champions League, and struggling Inter Milan.

The Nerazzurri continued a bad spell with a 1-0 defeat at Olympique Marseille, and look now to the second leg to progress into the quarter-finals of the continental tournament.

In other late games, third-place Udinese visit Bologna and Lazio, who are level on points with the Udine side, take on Fiorentina. Genoa v Parma open the round Saturday, while fifth-placed Roma chase a Champions League berth Sunday at Atalanta.

Cagliari v Lecce, Catania v Novara, Chievo v Cesena and Siena v Palermo complete the Sunday schedule.